The　use　of　steel　tube　confined　concrete　(STCC)　columns　has　been　the　interests　of　many　structural　engineers.　A　finite　element　analysis　(FEA)　model　was　established　in　this　paper　to　analyse　the　mechanisms　of　STCC　stub　columns　under　axial　compression.　It　was　found　that　both　the　predicted　ultimate　strength　and　load　versus　deformation　curves　show　generally　good　agreements　with　those　of　the　measurements.　The　interaction　between　the　steel　tube　and　its　concrete　core　was　analysed　and　illustrated　by　using　the　FEA　model.　Simplified　formulae　were　proposed　by　using　the　regression　method　based　on　the　parametric　analysis　outcome.　©　2009　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.