The　mechanical　properties　of　axial　compression　aluminium　members　under　cyclic　loading　were　studied　and　compared　with　those　of　steel　columns.　In　order　to　proceed　to　theoretical　study　on　hysteretic　behavior　of　aluminium　columns,　a　method　by　finite　element　analysis　was　proposed.　The　method　was　based　on　FEA　software,　ANSYS.　The　analysis　methods　considered　the　effects　of　material　nonlinearity,　geometrical　nonlinearity　and　initial　imperfection.　On　this　basis,　hysteretic　curves,　reversal　skeleton　curves　and　stiffness　degradation　curves　of　6061-T6　aluminium　columns,　6061-T4　aluminium　columns　and　Q235　steel　columns　under　axial　cyclic　loading　were　obtained　and　compared.　Results　show　that　the　hysteretic　behavior　of　the　aluminium　columns　is　similar　with　the　low　carbon　steel　columns　and　is　significantly　influenced　by　constitutive　relationship.　©　(2014)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.