Abstract: The compressive performance of new composite material “concrete confined with high-strength stainless steel stranded wire meshes/ECC” (hereinafter referred to as HSE confined concrete) was studied by considering the effects of parameters: concrete strength, strength of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) and reinforcement ratio of lateral high-strength stainless steel stranded wires. The axial compression test of HSE confined concrete shows that vertical cracks about 0.01 mm appears on ECC in constraint layer at about 30% of the peak load. When the applied load reaches about 85% and 100% of the peak load, the maximum crack width on the surfaces is about 0.07 mm, 0.20 mm, respectively. These phenomena show that the new composite material has excellent crack dispersion and crack-controlling ability. When the applied load decreases to 75% of the peak load, the first lateral steel stranded wires rupture for the first time. The HSE confined concrete specimens are cracked without breaking when completely destroyed, and maintain a good bond between the constraint layer and core concrete, which has a good integrity. Compared with the plain concrete column, the cracking stress, axial compressive strength, the axial compressive strain and ultimate compressive strain of HSE confined concrete are increased by 88%-116%, 21%-49%, 45%, 106%-175%, respectively. The increases of ECC strength, concrete strength grade and the reinforcement ratio of lateral steel stranded wires have improved the cracking load, peak load and ultimate compressive strain of HSE confined concrete.