Ferroaluminate　cement　(FAC)　emerges　as　a　special　cement　with　outstanding　durability,　offering　promising　applications.　However,　the　resistance　to　sulfate　attack　of　FAC　remains　inadequately　understood.　In　this　paper,　the　impact　of　sulfate　attack　on　the　pore　structure　of　FAC　concrete　is　explored　through　nuclear　magnetic　resonance　(NMR)　tests　from　a　microscopic　perspective.　Meanwhile,　the　macroscopic　mechanical　characteristics　of　concrete　attacked　by　sulfate　are　investigated　under　different　loading　conditions,　including　splitting　tensile　and　conventional　triaxial　compression.　NMR　test　analysis　shows　that　as　the　degree　of　erosion　increases,　the　number　of　mesopores　and　macropores　in　FAC　concrete　decreases　while　the　number　of　micropores　increases.　The　changes　in　pore　structure　distribution　alter　the　mechanical　response　of　specimens.　The　discussion　of　strength　characteristics,　deformation　behavior,　and　energy　parameters　in　conventional　triaxial　tests　reveals　that　FAC　concrete　attacked　by　sulfate　exhibits　superior　mechanical　properties　under　confining　pressure.　Uniaxial　strength　results　indicate　that　sulfate　attack　has　less　impact　on　specimens　under　tensile　stress　state　than　under　compression.　Based　on　the　experimental　findings,　this　paper　introduces　a　sulfate　attack　impact　factor　to　capture　the　uniaxial　strength　changes.　Further,　a　multiaxial　strength　criterion　is　developed　to　describe　the　strength　properties　of　sulfate-attacked　concrete　under　triaxial　stress　conditions.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd