Corrosion of reinforcement is one of the leading causes of the deterioration in reinforced concrete structures. RC structures damaged by reinforcement corrosion can exhibit not only reduction of the bearing capacity but also an alteration of the collapse mechanism with a reduction of the structural ductility. In order to study the problem, full scale experimental tests on column specimens have been performed under cyclic loads. Preliminary tests for the calibration of the corrosion process have been carried out both on bare and embedded bars. The results of the cyclic experimental tests show how the reinforcement corrosion can lead to a reduction of the structural ductility, such that it could become a critical aspect particularly for buildings in seismic regions.