Previous　studies　have　proven　that　CFST　(concrete-filled　steel　tube)　battened　built-up　columns　(CFST-BBCs)　exhibit　good　hysteresis　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　deformation　capacity　under　lateral　cyclic　repeated　loading.　To　further　understand　the　elastoplastic　seismic　response　characteristics　of　such　composite　structures　under　strong　earthquakes,　two　pseudo-dynamic　tests　of　1/8-scaled　CFST-BBC　pier　specimens　were　first　performed.　The　acceleration　records　obtained　in　the　1995　Kobe　Earthquake　and　the　2008　Wenchuan　Earthquake　were　used　to　investigate　how　ground　motion　intensity,　ground　motion　characteristics,　and　aftershocks　affect　the　seismic　response　of　the　CFST-BBC　pier.　Meanwhile,　an　extensive　time-history　analysis　of　17　fiber-based　finite　element　models　(FFEMs)　under　20　different　ground　motions　was　performed　to　reveal　the　influence　of　the　ground　motion　intensity,　the　same-intensity　aftershock,　and　the　main　structural　parameters　on　the　elastoplastic　seismic　response　of　the　CFST-BBC　pier.　Finally,　a　two-stage　checking　method　suitable　for　the　seismic　performance　of　the　CFST-BBC　pier　under　the　E1-level　frequent　earthquake　and　the　E2-level　rare　earthquake　was　proposed.　Verified　by　experimental　and　FFEM　analysis　results,　the　proposed　checking　method　can　accurately　and　effectively　evaluate　the　strength　and　deformation　capacity　of　the　CFST-BBC　piers　under　strong　earthquakes.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd