Although　the　concrete-filled　double-skin　steel　tubular　(CFDST)　columns　have　received　attention　in　numerous　studies,　their　mechanical　properties　remain　to　be　further　improved.　In　this　paper,　CFDST　columns　were　strengthened　with　steel　strips.　The　axial　compression　performance　of　a　new　type　of　multi-cavity　concrete-filled　double-skin　steel　tube　short　column　was　studied　through　experiments　and　numerical　simulations.　This　type　of　column　consists　of　two　concentric　square　steel　tubes,　a　sandwich　strip　connecting　the　inner　and　outer　steel　tubes,　and　an　inner　steel　tube　strip　located　on　the　inner　wall　of　the　inner　steel　tube.　A　total　of　20　short　columns　were　subjected　to　axial　compression,　with　the　main　variables　being　the　hollow　ratio,　height　of　the　inner　steel　tube　strip,　concrete　strength,　and　width-to-thickness　ratio　of　the　outer　steel　tube.　Based　on　the　test　results,　the　applicability　of　the　finite　element　model　was　verified,　and　extensive　parametric　analyses　were　conducted.　The　results　from　both　the　experiments　and　parametric　analyses　indicate　adding　inner　steel　tube　strips　can　further　decrease　the　degree　of　local　buckling　in　the　steel　tubes.　Moreover,　the　heights　of　the　sandwich　strip　and　the　inner　steel　tube　strip　have　a　notable　influence　on　the　axial　compression　performance　of　the　new　type　of　short　columns.　Finally,　the　experimental　and　finite　element　analysis　results　were　used　to　evaluate　the　predictive　performance　of　different　specification　models　for　the　bearing　capacity　of　CFDST,　conventional　multi-cavity　CFDST,　and　the　new　type　multi-cavity　CFDST　short　columns.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd