Objective To study the mechanical performance of porous scaffolds with lattice Weaire-Phelan (LWP) structure and simulate the whole process of compression test precisely using finite element analysis (FEA) method. Methods The Ti6Al4V (TC4) porous scaffolds with different porosity were manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) and measured by uniaxial compressive tests to obtain their mechanical properties, which would be compared with that of human bones and the porous scaffolds with other cellular structures. Four types of material models were verified for their effect on the simulation of porous scaffold compression. Results LWP samples presented the elastic modulus close to that of human cancellous bone and significantly higher yield strength than that of cortical bone in most parts of human body. As opposed to the biomaterial with other porous structures, LWP samples exhibited lower elastic modulus and higher yield strength. The simulated results derived from the material model developed in this study, namely, Johnson-Cook constitutive model and failure model based on dynamic geometric strain (JCDG), were proved very consistent with the experimental data. Conclusions LWP scaffolds as the bone repair biomaterial exhibited more excellent mechanical performance than the biomaterial with other porous structures. JCDG was more beneficial for establishing the reasonable simulation model of porous scaffold compression, compared with other reported material models.