The　study　on　the　seismic　performance　of　reinforced　concrete　columns　after　fire　exposure　is　helpful　to　provide　reference　for　damage　assessment　and　reinforcement　methods　of　reinforced　concrete　columns.　In　this　work,　a　3-D　meso-scale　model　of　reinforced　concrete　short　columns　under　cyclic　loading　was　established.　In　the　model,　the　heterogeneity　of　concrete　and　the　degradation　effect　of　mechanical　properties　of　steel　bar　and　concrete　were　considered.　In　addition,　the　non-linear　spring　was　used　to　describe　the　bond　slip　between　the　longitudinal　reinforcement　and　the　concrete.　The　rationality　of　the　numerical　analysis　model　was　verified　by　the　experimental　study　on　the　seismic　performance　of　reinforced　concrete　short　columns　at　room　temperature.　Based　on　the　present　simulation　method,　the　influence　of　axial　compression　ratio　and　fire　duration　on　the　seismic　performance　of　reinforced　concrete　short　columns,　including　lateral　force　resistance,　ductility,　stiffness　and　energy　dissipation　were　discussed.　The　simulation　results　show　that　the　axial　compression　ratio　in　the　range　of　0.2–0.6　is　helpful　to　improve　the　lateral　force　resistance　and　initial　stiffness　of　reinforced　concrete　short　columns,　although　having　a　negative　impact　on　ductility.　The　degradation　of　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　columns　after　fire　exposure　is　different　from　that　at　room　temperature.　Finally,　the　recommended　axial　compression　ratio　of　RC　short　columns　used　in　this　work　is　between　0.2　and　0.4.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd