Because of crack control by steel bars after cracking the material models for reinforced concrete(RC) differ from those for plain concrete(PL). The nonlinear behavior of columns subjected to lateral load was simulated with reasonable accuracy in 3D analysis by applying distinct material models for RC and PL zone subdivided properly on the section. The shear strain is confirmed to develope unstably with ununiform distribution in out-of-plane direction. And this tendency becomes stronger as the thickness of column member increases in out-of-plane direction. If this ununiformity in strain distribution is not taken into consideration the capacity and the deformability of columns in shear dominant failure are overestimated excessively in two dimensional analysis. By introducing equivalent softening model a behavior of columns can be predicted too in two dimensional analysis.