High strain low cycle fatigue and anti-seismic behavior of HRB400 QST reinforced steel bars

Based on the failure model of building structural steels under earthquake loading, High strain low cycle fatigue properties of HRB400QST (yield strength grade 400MPa, Quenched and Self Tempered) reinforced steel bars with diameters of 20mm and 16mm(unmachined) and HRB400V-N MA(microalloying)with diameters of 16mm (unmachined) were investigated. Based on the tests of total strain controlling, cycle strain response character of three kinds of steel bars and the relationship between cyclic stress and strain were researched. Hollomon and Coffin-Manson formulas were used to induce fatigue life formulas of three kinds of steel bars, and then the values of sigma(a)center dot Delta epsilon(t) were gained when N-f=100, calculated results show that the high strain low cycle fatigue properties of HRB400V-N MA rebars tested are much better than HRB400QST steel bars. Rupture surface scan reveals that surface hardened layer will reduce the cyclic toughness, and is bad for the anti-seismic performance.