In　order　to　investigate　the　seismic　behavior　of　multi-cell　steel　reinforced　concrete　(MSRC)　columns,　an　experimental　study　of　five　large-size　MSRC　columns　various　in　axial　load　ratio,　cross-sectional　structures　and　loading　directions　was　conducted　under　axial　loading　and　lateral　cyclic　loading.　The　failure　mode,　bearing　capacity,　ductility,　residual　deformation,　bearing　capacity　degeneration　and　energy　dissipation　capacity　were　analyzed　based　on　experimental　study.　The　results　showed　that　the　damage　developments　of　specimens　with　multi-cell　steel　under　a　large　axial　load　ratio　and　a　small　axial　load　ratio　were　similar,　while　the　damage　developments　of　specimens　with　open　steel　showed　significant　differences.　Meanwhile,　the　specimens　with　multi-cell　steel　exhibited　larger　bearing　capacity,　slower　bearing　capacity　degeneration,　better　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　more　stable　behavior　under　different　axial　load　ratios　compared　to　specimens　with　open　steel.　However,　the　bearing　capacities　of　specimens　with　multi-cell　steel　showed　a　sudden　decline　after　the　peak　point　and　the　ductility　index　was　smaller　than　that　of　specimens　with　open　steel.　While　when　the　confinement　effects　on　concrete　in　different　regions　of　cross-section　were　reasonably　designed,　the　post　peak　behavior　of　specimens　with　multi-cell　steel　will　be　significantly　improved.　Based　on　the　experimental　results,　a　fiber-based　method　considering　concrete　in　different　regions　experiencing　different　confinement　effects　was　proposed　to　predict　the　backbone　curves　of　five　specimens.　The　predicted　curves　showed　good　agreement　with　the　test　curves.　The　errors　of　the　peak　bearing　capacity　and　peak　displacement　ranged　from　−8.3%　to　5%　and　−10%　to　−14%.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd