Based　on　the　meso-mechanical　analysis　model　of　concrete　material,　a　meso-scale　numerical　approach　is　developed　for　the　simulation　of　failure　behavior　and　nonlinear　mechanical　properties　of　reinforced　concrete　members.　The　present　meso-mechanical　approach,　i.e.　so-called　the　meso-element　equivalent　method,　is　capable　of　capturing　the　important　characteristic　of　concrete　heterogeneity.　Two　reinforced　concrete　columns　of　different　sizes　subjected　to　uniaxial　compression　is　simulated　using　both　a　macro-scale　homogeneous　and　a　meso-scale　heterogeneous　model　to　illustrate　the　rationality　of　the　meso-scale　approach.　In　the　simulations,　perfect　bond　between　concrete　and　reinforcing　steel　is　assumed.　The　meso-scale　simulation　results　are　compared　with　the　macro-scale　results　as　well　as　the　experimental　observations.　Results　of　the　simulation　at　the　meso-scale　are　in　good　agreement　with　experiments　in　terms　of　the　failure　patterns　and　the　global　mechanical　properties,　which　demonstrate　the　rationality　and　accuracy　of　the　present　meso-mechanical　approach.　The　present　meso-scale　approach　can　well　simulate　not　only　the　macroscopic　mechanical　properties　of　the　two　reinforced　concrete　columns　but　also　their　failure　process,　such　as　the　buckling　behavior　of　the　longitudinal　reinforcement,　the　necking　fracture　of　the　stirrups,　the　broken　positions　of　concrete,　etc.　Besides　that　it　can　be　concluded　from　the　numerical　results　that　the　present　meso-mechanical　approach　can　be　extended　to　investigate　the　size　effect　in　reinforced　concrete　members.