Based　on　the　mechanical　features,three　tests　with　different　specimens　were　performed　on　steel　pipe　columns　with　low　axial　compression　ratio,supporting　large-span　roofs　under　reversed　horizontal　loading.　The　nonlinear　finite　element　method　was　used　to　analyze　the　deformation　performance　of　steel　pipe　columns,and　the　effects　of　slenderness　ratio,diameter-thickness　ratio,and　axial　compression　ratio　on　the　yield　deformation　angle　and　ultimate　deformation　angle　were　investigated.　The　test　results　show　that　when　the　axial　compression　ratio　is　about　0.2,the　hysteresis　curves　generated　by　the　steel　pipe　columns　under　reversed　horizontal　loading　show　a　full　shuttle　shape.　When　the　diameter-thickness　ratio　is　relatively　small,the　rate　of　plastic　deformation　of　the　steel　pipe　column　is　slowed　down,the　degree　of　damage　is　reduced,and　the　energy　dissipation　capacity　is　enhanced.　When　the　slenderness　is　relatively　small,the　growth　of　plastic　deformation　of　the　steel　pipe　column　is　accelerated　and　the　energy　dissipation　capacity　gets　weakened.　As　the　steel　pipe　column　enters　the　elastoplastic　zone(behavior),a　ring　form　of　deformation　occurs　peripherally　or　externally　at　the　bottom　and　a　drum　form　of　deformation　occurs　directly　at　bottom　of　the　column.　These　deformations　significantly　affect　the　ultimate　bearing　capacity.　The　yield　deformation　angle　and　the　ultimate　deformation　angles　are　much　larger　than　those　mentioned　in　the　specification.　The　finite　element　analysis　results　show　that　the　yield　deformation　angle　has　a　linear　relationship　with　the　axial　compression　ratio　and　the　slenderness　ratio;the　slenderness　ratio　has　the　maximum　influence　on　the　yield　deformation　angle,the　axial　compression　ratio　has　some　influence　when　compared　to　slenderness　ratio(second　in　the　order　of　influence),and　the　diameter-thickness　ratio　has　minimum　influence.　When　the　slenderness　ratio　is　not　less　than　40,the　yield　deformation　angle　can　satisfy　the　required　target　drift　angle　of　1/150.　The　ultimate　deformation　angle　of　steel　pipe　columns　has　a　linear　relationship　with　the　axial　compression　ratio　and　the　slenderness　ratio　and　has　a　nonlinear　relationship　with　the　diameter-thickness　ratio;the　diameter-thickness　ratio　has　the　largest　influence　on　the　ultimate　deformation　capacity　of　steel　pipe　columns,the　axial　compression　ratio　is　the　second(has　some　influence),and　the　slenderness　ratio　has　the　least　influence.　When　the　values　of　axial　compression　ratio　and　the　diameter-thickness　ratio　do　not　exceed　0.2　and　30,respectively,the　ultimate　deformation　angle　of　steel　pipe　columns　can　satisfy　the　required　target　drift　angle　of　1/30.　By　applying　the　results　of　finite　element　analysis　in　the　calculations,yield　deformation　angle　and　ultimate　deformation　angle　of　steel　pipe　columns　are　obtained,which　are　used　to　estimate　the　deformation　capacity　of　steel　pipe　columns.　©　2021,　Editorial　Board　of　Journal　of　Tianjin　University(Science　and　Technology).　All　right　reserved.