Precast　bridge　piers　with　socket　connections　(SCPs)　have　been　widely　studied　and　certainly　applied　in　recent　years.　To　reduce　the　punching　failure　of　socket　connections,　decrease　their　construction　difficulty,　and　improve　their　application　in　complex　environment　areas,　the　embedment　depth　of　SCPs　needs　to　be　decreased　and　the　cyclic　behavior　of　SCPs　needs　to　be　improved.　In　this　study,　engineered　cementitious　composite　(ECC)　was　firstly　introduced　to　the　SCPs,　a　novel　precast　bridge　piers　with　ECC-socket　connections　(SCEs)　were　proposed.　Subsequently,　3D　finite　element　models　(FEMs)　were　established　and　validated　against　experimental　results.　Then,　a　detailed　parametric　study　was　conducted　to　investigate　the　cyclic　behaviors　of　SCEs,　including　the　embedment　depth,　ECC　height,　axial　compression　ratio,　reinforcement　ratio,　and　concrete　compressive　strength.　Finally,　a　simplified　calculation　model　was　proposed　to　evaluate　the　bearing　capacity　and　failure　mode　of　SCEs.　The　results　show　that　the　shear　damage　of　the　embedded　section　is　more　severe　for　traditional　shallow　socket　connections.　Compared　to　traditional　SCPs,　the　cyclic　behavior　of　SCEs　is　better　and　influenced　by　ECC　height　and　embedment　depth,　as　well　as　axial　compression　ratio,　reinforcement　ratio,　and　concrete　compressive　strength.　The　simplified　calculation　model　is　suitable　to　evaluate　the　bearing　capacity　and　failure　mode　of　SCEs.