This　work　presents　the　experimental　characterization　and　theoretical　modeling　of　composite　elastic-porous　metal　materials　(C-EPMM).　C-EPMM　is　a　novel　porous　metallic　damping　material　made　of　wire　mesh　and　wire　helix.　A　series　of　quasi-static　compressive　experiments　were　carried　out　to　investigate　the　stiffness　and　energy　absorption　ability　of　the　C-EPMM　with　different　mass　ratios.　The　experimental　results　show　that　the　mass　ratios　can　significantly　affect　the　stiffness　and　loss　factor　of　C-EPMM.　To　efficiently　predict　the　nonlinear　mechanical　properties　of　the　C-EPMM　a　theoretical　model　of　C-EPMM　was　proposed　for　the　first　time,　the　model　was　based　on　the　manufacturing　process.　A　comparison　between　the　predicted　data　and　the　experimental　data　was　conducted.　The　results　show　that　the　theoretical　model　can　accurately　predict　the　mechanical　performance　of　C-EPMM.　The　conclusions　derived　from　this　work　can　provide　a　new　method　for　adjusting　the　mechanical　performance　of　EPMM　in　applications.　©　2021　The　Author(s).　Published　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.