The　conventional　steel-reinforced　concrete　(SRC)　composite　columns　are　successfully　applied　in　the　construction　of　high-rise　buildings　and　infrastructures.　However,　the　further　application　is　significantly　limited　by　problems　such　as　large　self-weight　and　poor　crack-resistance.　In　this　study,　an　innovative　steel-reinforced　reactive　powder　concrete　(SRRPC)　column　was　developed　to　be　a　new　alternative　to　the　traditional　SRC　column.　Four　SRRPC　short　columns,　considering　the　effect　of　longitudinal　reinforcement　ratio,　steel　shape　ratio　and　transverse　stirrup　ratio,　were　axially　loaded.　It　was　found　that　the　SRRPC　column　has　sufficient　axial　compressive　strength　which　considerably　increased　with　the　increase　of　these　test　parameters.　Furthermore,　increasing　the　stirrup　ratio　can　effectively　improve　the　post-peak　strength.　The　numerical　parametric　analysis　showed　that　the　axial　compressive　strength　was　mainly　affected　by　the　compressive　strength　of　the　reactive　powder　concrete　(RPC).　The　nominal-strength　models　of　the　existing　specifications　(EC　4,　ACI　318,　JGJ　138　and　AISC　360)　exhibited　large　conservation　in　predicting　the　axial　compressive　strength.　A　confined　model　was　successfully　developed　and　reasonable　agreements　were　found　between　the　experimental　and　predicted　axial　compressive　strengths.　©　2022　Institution　of　Structural　Engineers