Experimental study on the seismic performance of low‐strength graphene oxide concrete columns

Abstract Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising nanomaterial in civil engineering, yet most studies have been limited to small‐scale specimens. Herein, quasi‐static tests were conducted on full‐scale concrete columns to investigate the applicability of GO‐modified low‐strength concrete in structural systems. Results reveal that for low‐strength concrete, a higher GO dosage is not necessarily beneficial; instead, an optimal dosage range exists within the tested interval of 0%–0.29%. When the dosage exceeds this range (reaching 0.29%), cube compressive strength decreases by 36.83% compared to the control group. Excessive GO dosage also induces significant degradation in seismic performance: cumulative energy dissipation is reduced by 21.4%–53.3% and peak load decreases by 14.35%–18.59% relative to the control. Notably, a moderate GO dosage of 0.15% enhances cumulative energy dissipation by 20.17% at a drift ratio of 4.76%, though the overall improvement remains limited. Excessively high GO dosages do not enhance the compressive strength or ductility of low‐strength concrete. Furthermore, performance differences between full‐scale columns and small‐scale specimens highlight a critical scale effect. These findings emphasize that when applying GO‐modified low‐strength concrete in practical engineering, attention must be paid to its optimal dosage range, with careful evaluations considering component dimensions and stress characteristics.