This　paper　presents　axial　compressive　experiments　of　double-skin　composite　walls　(DSCWs)　with　novel　dumbbell-shaped　connectors　(DSCs)　and　traditional　headed　studs.　The　effects　of　the　wall　thickness,　material　strength,　and　diameter　and　number　of　the　headed　studs　on　the　axial　behavior　of　the　DSCWs　were　analyzed.　The　failure　modes　of　the　specimens　included　the　local　buckling　of　the　steel　plates　and　compressive　crushing　of　the　concrete.　The　buckling　position　was　between　two　adjacent　rows　of　connectors.　The　experimental　results　demonstrated　that　the　denser　the　arrangement　of　the　connectors　and　the　larger　the　diameter　of　the　headed　studs,　the　higher　the　critical　buckling　stress　and　axial　bearing　capacity　of　the　specimens.　The　compressive　stress–strain　relationship　of　the　steel　material　was　determined　considering　the　buckling　and　post-buckling　behaviors　of　steel　plates.　According　to　the　superposition　principle,　the　theoretical　load–displacement　relationships　of　the　five　specimens　were　calculated,　and　the　theoretical　curves　were　in　good　agreement　with　the　experimental　results.　The　calculation　formula　for　the　axial　bearing　capacity　of　the　specimens　was　introduced　with　some　simplified　assumptions,　and　the　average　value　of　the　experiment/calculation　ratio　was　96.14%.　ABAQUS　software　was　used　to　simulate　the　DSCW　specimens,　and　the　failure　modes　of　the　models　were　in　good　agreement　with　the　experiments.　The　average　value　of　the　experiment/simulation　ratio　for　the　peak　load　was　98.77%.　Based　on　the　verified　benchmark　model,　the　effects　of　four　parameters　on　the　compressive　behavior　of　DSCWs　were　analyzed.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd