To　investigate　the　seismic　performance　of　RC　circular　bridge　columns　subjected　to　combined　bending　and　torsional　loadings,　cyclic　testings　on　twelve　specimen　columns　were　performed　under　combined　bending　and　torsion　loadings.　Based　on　the　observed　and　measured　damage　characteristics,　hysteresis　behaviors　and　rebar　strains　of　tested　specimens,　the　effect　of　torsion　loading　on　bending　resistance　and　the　effects　of　reinforcement　ratio,　reinforcement　space　and　its　form　on　the　bending　and　torsion　behaviors　of　RC　bridge　columns　were　analyzed.　The　damage　characteristics　and　bending　and　torsion　capacities　of　specimen　columns　were　simulated　by　using　ABAQUS　software.　The　results　show　that　the　bending　and　torsion　capacity　is　decreased　due　to　the　effect　of　bending-torsion　interaction,　the　failure　modes　and　deformation　characteristics　are　changed　and　the　damage　zone　tends　to　move　upwards　from　the　typical　bending　plastic　hinge　zone.　A　novel　cross　interlock　spiral　reinforcement　type　is　presented　which　can　effectively　improve　the　bearing　capacities　of　RC　bridge　columns　under　combined　bending　and　torsion　loadings.　©,　2014,　Xi＇an　Highway　University.　All　right　reserved.