Abstract: The compressive properties of one-third composite cylindrical shells were tested and theoretical analyzed. The test results show that the cylindrical shells failure in buckling. The finite element method was used to establish an analysis model of the shell. The model was used for the further static strength and buckling analysis. The results show that the static strength is much higher than the buckling strength. So the shell should fail in buckling at first. This is coordinate with the test result. And the buckling strength of this model also agrees with the test results well. This model can be used to analyze the compression behavior of the integrated composite cylindrical shell and the results would provide reference for cylindrical shell structure design. Comparing the strains of the model with that of the specimen at the corresponding points under a certain compressive load, it shows that the strains match each other and indicates the efficiency of the model.