To　investigate　the　seismic　performance　of　hollow　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　bridge　columns　and　obtain　quantitative　parameters　for　the　requirements　of　performance-based　seismic　design,　twelve　specimens　with　rectangular　cross　section　were　tested　under　constant　axial　load　and　cyclic　bending.　Parametric　studies　were　carried　out　on　the　aspect　ratio,　axial　load　ratio,　longitudinal　reinforcement　ratio,　and　transverse　reinforcement　ratio.　The　key　damage　states　from　experimental　observations　can　be　related　to　engineering　parameters,　which　can　satisfy　quantitative　criteria　of　performance-based　seismic　design　for　bridges.　The　hysteretic　behavior　of　specimens　is　simulated　with　a　fiber　model　using　OpenSees　FE　platform.　The　force-displacement　relationship　hysteretic　curves　of　bridge　column　specimens　derived　from　the　fiber　element　model　agree　well　with　experimental　results.　Analysis　of　the　experimental　results　suggested　that　key　damage　states　of　residual　cracking,　cover　spalling,　and　core　crushing　can　also　be　related　to　engineering　parameters,　such　as　longitudinal　reinforcement　tensile　strain　and　concrete　compressive　strains,　using　cumulative　probability　curves.　The　experimental　results　showed　that　the　ductility　coefficient　varies　from　3.71　to　8.29　and　the　equivalent　viscous　damping　ratio　varies　from　0.19　to　0.31,　meeting　the　requirements　of　seismic　design.　The　hollow　RC　rectangular　bridge　columns　with　configurations　of　transverse　reinforcement　in　this　paper　have　excellent　performance,　and　may　be　considered　as　a　substitute　for　current　hollow　RC　rectangular　section　configurations　described　in　Guideline　for　Seismic　Design　of　Highway　Bridges　(JTG/T　B02-01-2008).　©,　2015,　Tsinghua　University.　All　right　reserved.