An　accurate　finite　element　(FE)　model　was　constructed　to　examine　the　hysteretic　behavior　of　double-skin　steel-concrete　composite　box(DSCB)　piers　for　further　understanding　the　seismic　performance　of　DSCB　piers;　where　the　local　buckling　behavior　of　steel　tubes,　the　confinement　of　the　in-filled　concrete　and　the　interface　action　between　steel　tube　and　in-filled　concrete　were　considered.　The　accuracy　of　the　proposed　FE　model　was　verified　by　the　bidirectional　cyclic　loading　test　results.　Based　on　the　validated　FE　model,　the　effects　of　some　key　parameters,　such　as　section　width　to　steel　thickness　ratio,　slenderness　ratio,　aspect　ratio　and　axial　load　ratio　on　the　hysteretic　behavior　of　DSCB　piers　were　investigated.　Finally,　the　skeleton　curve　model　of　DSCB　piers　was　proposed.　The　numerical　simulation　results　reveal　that　the　peak　strength　and　elastic　stiffness　decrease　with　the　increase　of　the　section　width　to　steel　thickness　ratio.　Moreover,　the　increase　of　the　slenderness　ratio　may　result　in　a　significant　reduction　in　the　peak　strength　and　elastic　stiffness　while　the　ultimate　displacement　increases.　The　proposed　skeleton　curve　model　can　be　taken　as　a　reference　for　seismic　performance　analyses　of　the　DSCB　piers.　©　2016,　Editorial　Department　of　Journal　of　Southeast　University.　All　right　reserved.