The　finite　element　analysis　method　of　seismic　performance　of　four-element　variable　cross-sectional　concrete-filled　steel　tubular(CFST)laced　column　was　put　forward.　The　specimens　were　modeled　and　analyzed　by　the　OpenSEES　general　program,　and　the　load-displacement　hysteretic　curves　and　horizontal　peak　loads　of　laced　columns　were　computed.　The　influence　rules　of　longitudinal　slope,　axial　compression　ratio,　slenderness　ratio,　area　ratio　of　lacing　tubes　to　longitudinal　tubes,　yield　strength　of　steel,　concrete　strength,　arrangement　type　of　lacing　tubes,　and　other　extension　parameters　on　the　skeleton　curves　of　variable　cross-sectional　CFST　laced　columns　with　flat　or　inclined　tubes　were　investigated.　According　to　the　calculation　frame　of　skeleton　curves　of　equal　sectional　CFST　laced　columns,　the　calculation　formulas　of　skeleton　curves　characteristic　values　(including　the　elastic　stiffness,　horizontal　peak　load　and　its　displacement,　and　fall-period　stiffness)　of　four-element　variable　cross-sectional　CFST　laced　columns　were　obtained　by　the　equivalent　length　method.　The　calculation　formula　of　restoring　force　model　was　deduced　resorting　to　the　calculation　model　of　skeleton　curve　and　verified　by　the　engineering　example.　Research　result　indicates　that　the　axial　compression　ratio,　slenderness　ratio,　longitudinal　slope,　area　ratio　of　lacing　tube　to　longitudinal　tube,　and　material　parameters　are　the　main　influence　parameters　on　the　seismic　performance　of　variable　cross-sectional　CFST　laced　columns,　the　common　influence　rules　are　the　same　as　the　rules　on　the　equal　section　laced　column,　and　the　numerical　difference　is　within　20%.　The　calculated　results　of　characteristic　values　of　each　specimen　are　in　good　agreement　with　the　finite　element　analysis　results,　and　their　ratios　are　0.990-1.029,　the　mean　square　errors　are　0.105-0.153,　and　the　errors　are　basically　controlled　within　15%.　The　errors　to　calculate　the　restoring　force　model　of　four-element　variable　cross-sectional　CFST　laced　columns　are　within　12%,　so　the　computation　result　is　reliable.　2　tabs,　21　figs,　32　refs.　©　2018,　Editorial　Department　of　Journal　of　Traffic　and　Transportation　Engineering.　All　right　reserved.