To　improve　the　seismic　performance　of　tall-pier　bridges,　an　innovative　tall　pier　with　a　composite　box　section,　composed　of　four-limb　concrete-filled　steel　tube　(CFST)　columns　and　low-yield-strength　(LYS)　steel　plates,　was　proposed　based　on　the　principle　of　capacity　design　and　the　replaceable　fuse　concept.　Both　axial　and　eccentric　compression　tests　were　conducted　on　a　series　of　specimens　to　study　the　compressive　performance　of　the　composite　tall　pier.　Parametric　analysis　was　performed　to　investigate　the　effects　of　load　eccentricity,　slenderness　ratio,　thickness,　and　yield　strength　of　the　LYS　steel　plates　on　the　compressive　capacity　using　validated　finite　element　(FE)　models.　The　main　results　indicate　that　the　composite　tall　pier　fails　with　global　bending　deformation　and　elastoplastic　instability　under　axial　or　eccentric　compression.　The　compressive　capacity　and　initial　stiffness　of　the　composite　tall　pier　decrease　significantly　with　an　increase　in　eccentricity　or　slenderness　ratio,　and　the　influences　of　eccentricity　and　slenderness　ratio　are　essentially　independent.　Additionally,　the　increase　in　the　thickness　of　the　steel　plates　enhanced　the　flexural　stiffness　and　compressive　capacity,　and　reduced　the　uneven　loading　distribution　for　the　pier.　Under　axial　compression,　the　pier　can　be　simplified　as　a　CFST　lattice　column　connected　by　steel　beams　and　LYS　steel　plates.　Finally,　practical　formulas　for　the　compressive　capacity　are　proposed　considering　the　connection　and　restraint　effects　of　the　LYS　steel　plates　on　the　CFST　columns,　which　can　be　used　to　predict　the　compressive　capacity　of　the　novel　composite　tall　pier.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd