Due to the special section of T and L-shaped columns, the web and the flange will bear pressure or tension under forward and reverse load. The shear capacity and deformation capacity are different under forward and reverse load, and when the shear-span is lower the difference is more obvious. Through low frequency cyclic loading experiment of T and L-shaped columns while the shear-span is 2.5, this paper investigated the failure characteristic, shear capacity, deformation capacity and rigidity degeneracy of the T and L-shaped columns with low shear-span ratio. The results show that the shear capacity and deformation capacity of the T and L-shaped columns are obviously different under forward and reverse load. The web concrete in column foot will be damaged seriously under pressure, which reduces the section stiffness and shear capacity, so the column foot may become the weak position of specially shaped columns.