In　order　to　analyze　the　effect　of　rebar　size　on　the　compressive　strength　of　concrete　cover,　the　axial　behavior　of　a　prism　with　a　central　rebar　was　experimentally　and　theoretically　investigated.　The　test　results　indicated　that　the　concrete　compressive　strength　with　rebar　was　relatively　smaller　than　the　axial　compressive　strength　of　prism　that　was　similar　with　the　concrete　strength　of　cylinder.　Further,　the　degree　of　reduction　in　the　concrete　compressive　strength　increased　as　the　diameter-thickness　ratio　increased.　Moreover,　based　on　the　test　results　and　walled　cylinder　theory,　the　influence　of　rebar　on　the　concrete　compressive　strength　can　be　better　understood.　Lastly,　in　the　structural　design,　the　small　rebar　size　and　big　concrete　cover　thickness　should　be　chosen　so　that　the　effect　of　splitting　action　on　concrete　cover　was　weaken.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.