Cyclic Behavior of Non-Conforming Full Scale RC Columns

Capacity models to assess structural safety are mainly based on experimental outcomes typical of new constructions. In order to analyze deformation and strength mechanisms of members that do not comply to current seismic codes and practices, an experimental investigation was undertaken on full scaled columns reinforced with deformed or plain rebars. The experiments involved eight tests under monotonic or cyclic actions on square or rectangular reinforced concrete columns designed according to provisions, construction practice and material properties enforced between the 1940s and 1970s. Experimental outcomes allowed pointing out global and local behavior of RC columns typically found in existing constructions, in which both plain and deformed bars can be found. Theoretical plastic rotation capacities provided by the proposed supplement to ASCE/SEI 41 are herein compared and discussed to those experimentally obtained. The results indicate that predicted plastic rotations corresponding to significant loss of lateral force capacity are very conservative if compared to experimental outcomes. This seems especially clear in the case of columns reinforced with plain rebars; for these columns, the contribution of the base rotation on the global deformation mechanism is considerable.