Two　groups　of　reinforced　concrete　short　columns　(RCSC)　with　different　section　size　were　tested　to　explore　the　size　effect　in　the　shear　behavior　of　RCSC.　One　group　was　loaded　quasi-statically;　the　other　group　was　loaded　monotonically.　The　experimental　data　was　analyzed　in　terms　of　damage　mode,　hysteresis　characteristics,　skeleton　curve,　ductility　and　energy　dissipation.　The　analytical　results　show　that,　with　the　increase　of　section　size,　the　shear-bearing　capacity,　ductility　and　energy　dissipation　decrease,　while　the　equivalent-viscous-damping-coefficients　increase.　When　the　column　ends　were　loaded　to　same　rotational　angle,　the　specimen　with　larger　section　size　was　damaged　more　than　the　smaller　one.　That　means　the　size　effect　in　RCSC　is　significant.　Based　on　the　experimental　results,　a　piratical　model　was　proposed　to　calculate　the　capacity　of　RCSC　with　consideration　of　size　effect,　which　assures　all　RCSC　have　same　designed　safety　margin.