Abstract: In order to grasp the performance of a high formwork support system during concrete placement, an eight-meter-high formwork support system with couples is erected and the test is finished in a construction field. The process of pouring concrete is simulated by putting steel slags. During the period of loading, the axial strains of supporters are measured and the relationship between the loading order and the forces acting at the top of falsework is given. A method of simulating the working state of a formwork support system by finite element analysis (FEA) is proposed. The comparison between calculating results and test results shows that the axial forces of supporters can be obtained effectively by FEA according to the method. The results according to the code are also compared with the test results and some shortcomings in the code are found.