To understand the effects of gravity distortion on the seismic responses of concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) single arch ribs, a shaking table test was conducted for a 1/10 -scale CFST arch rib model. The testing results indicate that when the time compression level of the seismic wave is large, the effect of gravity distortion on the displacement response of the model vault is relatively minor. In such instances, the full-scale model can be regarded as neglecting gravitational effects. When the time compression level of the seismic wave was small, in models with lower distortion levels, the axial strain values at the arch springing section were higher, surpassing the elastic limit strain of the steel material. Consequently, the arch structure transitioned into the elastoplastic phase. Both the gravity distortion level and time compression level of the input waves exert significant influences on the axial strain response of arch springing section of the model.