Axial　bearing　capacities　of　rectangular　concrete　columns　can　be　significantly　improved　by　the　confinement　of　multi-spiral　hoops　(MSHs).　The　confining　effect　of　multi-spiral　hoops　on　the　stress　distribution　and　amplitude　of　concrete　cross　section　was　analyzed　by　the　finite　element　method.　Subsequently,　the　calculating　methods　for　the　axial　bearing　capacity　of　rectangular　concrete　columns　in　various　codes　were　validated　by　test　data.　The　deviation　of　the　calculated　results　of　different　methods　was　also　analyzed.　Based　on　the　results　of　numerical　simulations,　the　axial　compression　calculation　formulas　for　MSH　confined　columns　were　proposed,　and　different　stress-strain　laws　were　considered　for　different　parts　of　the　concrete　cross　section.　The　comparison　of　test　results　showed　that　the　theoretical　calculation　method　had　better　accuracy.　©　2018,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.