A research program was initiated at the University of Colorado at Boulder to develop computational models that can be used for seismic risk assessments. To assess the overall performance of bridge structures including the nonlinear effects of bridge piers, the research focused on two levels of capabilities, i.e. global and local pier levels. A 3-D concrete model was used to evaluate the behavior of individual piers under combined axial, bending, and shear loadings using 3-D finite element analysis. Whereby the response curve reached the peak strength of the R/C column under the constant axial and monotonically increasing lateral loads. Experimental results on reinforced concrete bridge piers, which were obtained at the University of California at San Diego were used to validate the seismic performance of bridge piers at the two levels, globa1 and local.