Experimental analysis on cyclic performance of concrete columns with TempCore or Dual‑Phase steel reinforcement

The present paper shows the results of an experimental test campaign on RC base column joints realized using three different typologies of steel reinforcing bars. Traditional TempCore®B450C rebars were adopted in comparison with enhanced ones with Dual-Phase microstructure. The interest in the use of such kind of reinforcing grade comes from its improved performance in terms of durability in presence of aggressive environmental conditions, being able to provide a lower decrease of the deformation capacity, with residual values higher respect to minimum imposed by current standards. Being characterized by the typical undefined yielding stress–strain behaviour, Dual-Phase steel reinforcing bars need an accurate characterization to be used. In the present work experimental tests on RC-DP sub-structures were performed to assess their structural performance in presence of cyclic/seismic loading conditions, comparing results with traditional RC-TempCore® structures’ behaviour