Abstract:General mathematical expression of strength degradation is established for reinforced concrete members. The concept of strength degradation function is set with damage index being its variable. It is pointed out that the essence of strength degradation model is to determine the strength degradation function. The specific expression of the strength degradation function is established based on a set of experiments made in Kamashima Library in 1997. The influence of loading paths on the strength deterioration is examined in these experiments. The numerical result and the experimental phenomena are in good agreement. The established hysteretic model can reflect the strength degradation phenomenon well. The proposed hysteretic model is further proved to be suitable by another group of tests made by Kunnath K S, et al. in 1997.