In　recent　years,　great　progresses　have　been　made　on　the　establishment　of　large-scale　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　structures.　The　increases　on　the　size,　span　and　height　of　the　engineering　structures　and　the　diversification　of　the　structural　types,　make　the　bearing　capacity　of　the　RC　members　larger　and　larger,　and　the　mechanical　system　more　and　more　complicated.　The　size　effect　of　the　RC　members　brings　new　challenges　to　the　safe　design　on　concrete　structures　(especially　those　large-scale　RC　concrete　structures).　In　this　study,　the　experiments　and　simulations　of　the　failure　mechanism　and　the　size　effect　on　the　nominal　shear/flexural　strengths,　compressive　strengths　and　buckling　strengths　of　the　RC　members　(including　beams,　columns,　and　beam-column　connections)　are　briefly　reviewed.　Moreover,　some　research　areas　needed　to　be　strengthened　and　investigated　are　elaborated.　Generally,　subsequent　research　efforts　shall　be　made　on　the　size　effect　mechanism　by　experiments　of　large-scale　RC　members　in　conjunction　with　the　simulation　methods,　so　that　a　more　reasonable　theory　of　size　effect　can　be　established,　and　the　design　methodology　of　concrete　structures　can　be　optimized.　©　2017,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.