Abstracts:Abstract This study presents the experimental and analytical hysteretic behaviors of eight full-scale RC square and rectangular columns. The columns were designed to have different shear spans that represent: (1) a column that complies with the Turkish Government Ministry of Reconstruction and Resettlement’s ( 1975) seismic design code, Turkish Seismic Design Code (TSDC); (2) a substandard column; and (3) two sprayed glass fiber–reinforced mortar (GFRM)-retrofitted counterparts of the substandard column with and without basalt mesh. The substandard columns were designed to be subjected to relatively high shear ratios (i.e., the ratio of the shear force that corresponds to the moment capacity to shear strength of the cross section) up to 0.85 and with a high axial load-to-capacity ratio of 0.75. All columns were tested under constant axial load and reversed cyclic lateral displacement excursions. The results revealed that the columns that complied with the TSDC showed satisfactory behavior for seismic performance, and the performance of the substandard columns was extremely poor. However, the hysteretic performance of the substandard columns that were subjected to high axial stress and shear significantly improved after the proposed retrofitting. Finally, a numerical model was developed in OpenSees to reproduce the hysteresis curves of the specimens. The slip of the longitudinal bars at the column–foundation interface, strain penetration into the foundation, and buckling of the longitudinal bars in compression were accounted for in the modeling. The results are in good agreement with the experimental hysteresis curves. The performance levels of the columns are further specified, and the predictions of the current seismic codes were analyzed: (1) the European Committee for Standardization’s 2005 code, Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance; Parts 1–3: Strengthening and repair of buildings (EC8-3); and (2) the Turkish Government Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Authority’s 2018 code, Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC). The TBEC provided more accurate estimates of plastic rotation capacities for substandard specimens. In contrast, EC8-3 overestimated the plastic rotation capacity when shear stresses were relatively high due to lower shear span-to-depth ratios (a/d).