Experimental behavior of beam-column joints made with EAF concrete under cyclic loading

This paper presents the results of an experimental campaign carried on exterior beam-column joints made with recycled concrete, containing Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) slag as full replacement of coarse natural aggregates. Three real-scale joints, one made with a conventional mix and two with EAF slag concrete, were tested under horizontal reversed cyclic loading, applied in quasi-static conditions. The three joints exhibited the same failure mode, which involved shear failure of panel joint and yielding of beams steel bars. This failure mode is indeed mainly influenced by concrete strength and was chosen to better highlight the influence of EAF slag use. Similar hysteresis response, stiffness decay, dissipated energy and ductility were obtained both with the conventional and EAF concrete joints. Results demonstrate that the specimens made with EAF concrete are able to attain higher loads than the conventional specimen at the same imposed displacement, and that the panel joint is less damaged.