Experimental and Numerical investigating of the behavior of lightweight aggregate concrete beams under cyclic loading

Due to brittle of lightweight aggregate concrete, investigation the behavior of lightweight aggregate concrete beams and connection under cyclic loading is required for the application of this type of concrete in structures. This study is focused on the experimental and numerical investigation of the behavior of the beams constructed of scoria lightweight aggregate concrete. Three numbers of reinforced cantilever beams are made with lightweight aggregate concrete. In this research, performance of the plastic hinge in the reinforced cantilever beams made of lightweight aggregate concrete is investigated based on the ductility reduction, energy absorption, stiffness deterioration and strength deterioration.
It was concluded that beam stiffness is reduced with increase in the amplitude of cycles. In displacement cycles with the amplitude of 80mm, equivalent to ductility 4, no significance decrease in the strength is observed in hysteresis diagram. With respect to ratio of the shear span to significant depth of the test specimens, the flexural behavior is dominant and the beams sustain ductility of greater than 4. In the second stage the samples by using with the ABAQUS software was modeled and similar to the tests were applied under displacement control. It is observed that hysteresis curve of numerical analyze can be just as testing. As a result the reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete beams have ductile behavior.
Keywords: Lightweight aggregate Concrete, Hysteretic Diagram, Cyclic Loading, Stiffness Reduction, Ductility.