Abstract: Based on the study of the mechanics features of air spring including the nonlinearities in material, geometry, contact, the nonlinear finite element analysis was applied to study nonlinearity characteristic of air spring. The three-dimensional finite element model of a cystiform air spring was established with the method of nonlinear finite element analysis. The analytical results were confirmed by the experiment with the use of an air spring test bench. The different contributions to the nonlinear stiffness characteristic of the multiplayer cystiform air spring were studied, which related to the inflation pressure, capsule parameters and additional chamber volume. The results show that the inflation pressure, capsule cord angle and additional chamber volume of the air spring have distinct influence to the stiffness character; whereas, the number of capsule card layer, interval of capsule card layer and interval of capsule card grid, capsule card material have little impact.