One of the most common strategies for retrofitting as-built reinforced concrete (RC) columns is to enlarge the existing section through the application of a new concrete layer reinforced by both steel transverse and longitudinal reinforcements. The present study was dedicated to developing a comprehensive model to predict the seismic behavior of as-built RC jacketed columns. For this purpose, a new sectional model was developed to perform moment-curvature analysis coupled by the plastic hinge method. In this analysis-oriented model, new methodologies were suggested to address the impacts of axial, flexural and shear mechanisms, variable confining pressure, eccentric loading, longitudinal bar buckling, and varying axial load. To consider the effective interaction between core and jacket, the monolithic factor approach was adopted to extent the response of the monolithic columns to that of a respective RC jacket strengthened column. Next, parametric studies were implemented to examine the effectiveness of the main parameters of the RC jacket strategy in retrofitting as-built RC columns. Ultimately, the reliability of the developed analytical model was validated against a series of experimental results of as-built and retrofitted RC columns.
