Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture 2328-3998 3 1 2015 03 18 Numerical Modelling of RC Columns Subjected to Biaxial Horizontal Loading and Variable Axial Load 28 38 EN André Furtado Hugo Rodrigues School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Campus 2 - Morro do Lena - Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4163-2411-901 Leiria, Portugal António Arêde AJCEA2015315 10.12691/ajcea-3-1-5 2015 03 02 2015 03 12 2015 03 18 Annumerical study of RC columns subjected to variable axial load in conjunction with biaxial cyclic bending are presented in this article. The numerical models were built to simulate the response of all specimens using the computer program SeismoStruct and adopting three different modelling strategies, such as lumped plasticity and distributed plasticity (based in displacements and forces formulations) that were adopted in order to obtain the real behaviour of the RC columns. The efficiency of each modelling strategy is evaluated through the comparison between the experimental global hysteretic behaviour, stiffness degradation, columns capacity and energy dissipation and the numerical results.