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The current paper aims to assess analytically the seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge columns under variable axial load. Variable axial load is very important to the ductility, strength, stiffness and energy dissipation of reinforced concrete bridge columns. The effects of variable axial loads on bridge columns are analysed to obtain a more realistic characterisation of the actual performance and capacity of bridge columns. A computer program, RCAHEST (reinforced concrete analysis in higher evaluation system technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. Models for material nonlinearity include tensile, compressive and shear models for cracked concrete and a model of reinforcing steel incorporating the smeared crack approach. The proposed numerical method for the seismic performance assessment of reinforced concrete bridge columns under variable axial load is verified by comparison of its results with reliable experimental results.

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