Title: Cyclic Testing and Assessment of Columns Containing Recycled Concrete Debris

Author(s): F. Soleimani, M. McKay, C. S. W. Yang, K. E. Kurtis, R. DesRoches, and L. F. Kahn

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 113

Issue: 5

Appears on pages(s): 1009-1020

Keywords: columns; cyclic loading; recycled concrete aggregate; reinforced concrete; seismic performance

DOI: 10.14359/51689024

Date: 9/1/2016

Abstract:
Reuse of concrete debris as a component of structural concrete is important both economically and environmentally. In resourcepoor regions, using construction debris may facilitate economic, rapid, material sourcing and debris disposal if it demonstrates adequate structural performance. To investigate the seismic resistance of structural elements with recycled concrete aggregate, this research performs quasi-static cyclic testing on four full-scale reinforced concrete columns—two containing natural aggregate and two containing recycled concrete aggregate—under both axial and lateral loads. For each aggregate source, reinforcement detailing in one column conformed to the seismic provisions in the International Building Code, while the detailing in the other column conformed to nonseismic design specifications. A pre-experimental numerical model for each column was created in OpenSees to predict the behavior of the column. Experimental and numerical results verify that seismically designed columns made of either natural aggregate concrete or recycled aggregate concrete show similar cyclic lateral behavior.