This　paper　studies　the　structural　stability　of　circular　steel　tubular　stub　columns　at　elevated　temperatures　under　axial　compression.　Fifty-one　specimens　are　subjected　to　high-temperature　treatment　and　axial　compression.　The　variables　of　the　specimen　are　temperature,　wall　thickness　of　steel　tube　and　duration　of　high　temperature.　The　displacement-load　curve,　strain-load　curve,　ultimate　load,　axial　compressive　stiffness　and　failure　characteristics　of　the　specimens　were　analyzed.　Test　results　show　that　after　exposure　to　high　temperatures,　the　specimens＇　failure　phenomenon　in　the　axial　compression　loading　test　is　consistent　with　that　at　room　temperature,　the　bearing　capacity　decreases　considerably,　the　ductility　decreases　slightly　and　the　axial　compressive　stiffness　changes　irregularly.　Temperature　is　the　determining　factor　of　the　ultimate　load　of　the　specimen,　and　the　reducing　extent　of　ultimate　load　increases　with　the　temperature.　When　the　temperature　reaches　1000　C,　its　maximum　reducing　extent　exceeds　50%.　Among　the　three　parameters　considered　in　this　study,　the　duration　of　high　temperature　has　the　least　influence　on　the　specimen.　©　2019　World　Scientific　Publishing　Company.