Experimental investigation is conducted on the mechanical behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) under uniaxial cyclic compression. Based on the experimental results, an elasto-plastic damage constitutive model of SFRC is developed, referring to Code for design of concrete structures (GB 50010-2010). A total of 36 specimens are fabricated and tested, in which the volume fraction and aspect ratio of steel fiber are the main variables. The results indicate that the failure of SFRC specimens shows obviously ductile characteristics. The added steel fibers can significantly improve the mechanical behavior of concrete, i.e. peak strength, post-peak ductility and hysteretic energy dissipative ability. The envelop curve for SFRC under cyclic compression is found to lie approximately on the monotonic stress-strain curve for the same mixture. Moreover, the plastic strain decreases with the volume fraction of steel fiber at the same envelop unloading strain. The proposed model is proved to be valid to predict the stress-strain relation and damage revolution of SFRC under cyclic compression, which could provide reference for the engineering application of SFRC and the revision of relevant standards.