The　behaviour　of　concrete-filled　steel　tubular　(CFST)　stub　columns　subjected　to　axially　local　compression　was　experimentally　investigated　in　this　paper.　A　total　of　thirty-two　specimens　were　tested.　The　main　parameters　varied　in　the　tests　are:　(1)　sectional　types:　circular　and　square;　(2)　local　compression　area　ratio　(concrete　cross-sectional　area　to　local　compression　area):　1.44　and　16;　and　(3)　thickness　of　the　endplate:　from　2　to　12 mm.　A　finite　element　analysis　modelling　was　used　for　the　analysis　of　CFST　stub　columns　subjected　to　axially　local　compression,　and　a　comparison　of　results　calculated　using　this　modelling　shows　generally　good　agreement　with　the　test　results.　The　theoretical　modelling　was　then　used　to　investigate　the　mechanism　of　the　composite　columns　subjected　to　axially　local　compression.　©　2007　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.