Due　to　long-term　exposure　to　coastal　environments,　steel　reinforced　concrete　(SRC)　structures　are　susceptible　to　chloride　corrosion.　To　evaluate　the　corrosion-compression　damage　in　civil　infrastructure　safety,　this　study　firstly　presents　investigations　on　deterioration　mechanism　of　circular　SRC　columns　under　chloride　environment.　Experimental　test　was　conducted　on　ten　circular　SRC　columns　under　chloride　environment,　aiming　to　investigate　the　effect　of　corrosion　rates　and　CL-　concentrations　on　axial　compressive　behavior.　Results　were　presented　involving　the　corrosion　phenomenon,　failure　patterns,　load–displacement　curves　and　effect　of　parameters.　The　cracks　observed　were　propagating　longitudinally　from　the　bottom　upwards,　leading　to　strength　failure.　The　presence　of　initial　rust　cracks　accelerated　the　cracking　failure　rate　of　specimens　under　chloride　salt　erosion.　The　chloride　salt　erosion　significantly　deteriorated　the　deformation　ability　of　circular　SRC　columns.　A　30%　corrosion　rate　resulted　in　a　decrease　of　27.36%　in　initial　stiffness　and　23.9%　in　ultimate　strength,　respectively.　When　the　corrosion　rate　exceeded　20%,　the　degradation　rate　of　mechanical　properties　of　the　specimens　accelerated.　Adopting　partitioning　approach,　FE　models　were　established　to　simulate　the　performance　of　circular　SRC　columns　under　chloride　salt　erosion　and　good　agreement　has　been　observed　between　experiments　and　numerical　results.　Furthermore,　employing　calculated　formulae　derived　from　a　revised　cracking　model　of　the　concrete　protective　layer　enabled　accurate　predictions　of　circular　SRC　column　strength　degradation　post-corrosion.　These　findings　inform　structural　design　and　maintenance　practices　for　circular　SRC　columns.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd