Matamoros, AdolfoWoods, Charles2010-07-252010-07-252010-06-012010http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:10988https://hdl.handle.net/1808/6436The purpose of this study was to analyze the response of two full-scale reinforced concrete columns undergoing cyclic lateral loads. Specifically, columns were detailed to be similar to actual columns found in buildings constructed before 1970, under much less stringent seismic design requirements than today. Columns were constructed at the Structural Testing Laboratory at the University of Kansas and were instrumented and tested at the University of Minnesota NEES-MAST facility. Column cross sectional area was maintained constant between the two tests as well as material properties. Longitudinal and transverse reinforcement ratios, axial load ratio, and loading protocol were varied between tests. A constant axial compressive load was applied to both columns while being subjected to lateral deformations with increasing amplitude, until both lateral and axial load capacities were lost. Post-failure measurements were obtained to study the residual strength of the columns. Results show that all four of the aforementioned parameters affected column response. Data collected from this experiment are used to improve our understanding about the effect of displacement history and longitudinal reinforcement ratio on the drift ratio at axial failure of reinforced concrete columns.126 pagesENThis item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.Civil engineeringColumnConcreteEarthquakeReinforcedSeismicVulnerableThesisopenAccess