Abstract: This paper investigates the deformation of compressed bars with I-section. A finite-element program of 3D-Steel-Struct developed by authors is used in the analysis. Initial geometric crookedness, residual stress and material inelasticity are considered in the investigation. Second order elastic and second order rigid-plastic analysis are carried out for imperfect members, and relations between axially compressive force and deformation are deduced. Analytical expression for axially compressive force and deflection at mid-span are presented, as well as that for axially compressive force and axial shortening. A comparison shows the excellent agreement between the proposed explicit expressions and the numerical results. The axial ductility of compressed member is also studied in the paper. A formula relating the ductility to the slenderness is proposed.