Under seismic action, the damage of critical regions in ductile reinforced concrete structures can be regarded as combined results of cumulative damage caused by positive/ negative displacements with different displacement levels after yielding. On the basis of symmetric low-cyclic fatigue experiments on eight half-scale RC columns under different displacement levels, the development of cumulative damage and relationships between low-cyclic fatigue life and symmetric displacement amplitude are investigated. It is hoped that on this ground, more rational damage criteria for RC structures can be put forward.