The　bearing　capacity　and　durability　of　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　structures　can　be　affected　by　fire.　In　this　study,　a　three-dimensional　(3D)　meso-scale　simulation　model　for　RC　short　column　subjected　to　axial　compression　after　exposure　to　fire　was　established.　The　degradation　effect　of　mechanical　properties　of　steel　bars　and　concrete　materials　after　high　temperature　was　taken　into　account.　The　bond-slip　behavior　between　longitudinal　steel　bars　and　concrete　was　also　considered　in　the　model.　Based　on　the　present　simulation　method,　the　failure　mode　and　failure　mechanism　of　the　RC　short　columns　were　investigated.　Moreover,　the　effects　of　fire　scenario　and　fire　duration　on　the　axial　compression　performance　of　RC　short　columns　were　further　investigated.　It　is　found　that　the　meso-scale　numerical　model　can　effectively　simulate　the　mechanical　behavior　of　RC　short　columns　under　axial　load.　Moreover,　with　the　increase　of　fired　surfaces　and　fire　duration,　the　peak　bearing　capacity,　axial　compression　stiffness　and　ductility　decrease.　The　mechanical　properties　of　short　columns　decrease　more　quickly　under　non-uniform　fire.　By　comparing　the　theoretical　value　with　the　numerical　simulation　value　of　Nut/Nu,　it　is　found　that　the　theoretical　value　is　conservative.　©　The　Authors,　published　by　EDP　Sciences,　2021.