Abstract:To study the failure mode of reinforced concrete (RC) frame columns under different shear-span ratios, on the basis of the RC columns in Xuankou middle school that collapsed during the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, a 1:4 RC column model was designed and constructed, and the plane frame quasi-static test was conducted. Three sets of RC frame column models with different shear-span ratios (λ=3, λ=4.25, andλ=6) were designed. The hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, and different failure modes of the RC frame column were obtained through a quasi-static test, and the ratio of shear bearing capacity to axial force of the RC frame column was defined as the seismic performance coefficient α. With the use of three sets of test data, the failure rule of the RC frame column based on the seismic performance coefficient α was summarized: When α < 0.16, flexure failure happens on the RC frame column; when α≥0.16, shear failure happens on the RC frame column. If the value of α is well grasped in the seismic design of the RC frame column, then the shear and brittle damage of the column can be avoided. In addition, three methods for calculating the shear force from strain were compared, and an effective shear force calculation method in the linear case was obtained; that is, the actual stress state at the end of the RC frame column was retrieved by the measured strain information.