The　behaviour　of　timber　columns　subjected　to　freeze-thaw　cycles　under　axial　compression　is　presented　in　this　paper.　A　total　of　forty　specimens,　including　twenty　circular　timber　columns　and　twenty　square　timber　columns,　were　tested　under　axial　compression.　The　failure　modes,　ultimate　bearing　capacity,　ductility　coefficient,　load-displacement　curves　and　load-strain　curves　were　obtained　and　analyzed.　The　number　of　freeze-thaw　cycles　(from　0　to　80)　and　the　specimens’　height　(from　225　mm　to　360　mm)　were　considered　as　the　main　parameters.　After　freeze-thaw　cycles,　there　was　no　obvious　change　on　the　surface　of　the　timber　col-umns.　The　test　results　showed　that　freeze-thaw　cycles　could　reduce　the　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　the　timber　columns,　and　the　average　reduction　of　the　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　the　specimen　reached　28%.　The　ductility　coefficient　of　the　square　specimens　subjected　to　freeze-thaw　cycles　almost　remains　constant　compared　with　that　of　the　square　timber　columns　left　untreated.　While　the　ductility　coefficient　of　the　circular　timber　columns　increases　after　freeze-thaw　cycles.　In　addition,　based　on　the　extensive　experimental　analysis,　a　regression　formula　is　derived　to　predict　the　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　the　timber　columns　after　being　subjected　to　freeze-thaw　cycles,　which　is　proved　to　be　reasonable　accurate.　©　2020,　Tech　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.