Non-linear analysis to predict the moment–curvature response of CFRP-strengthened steel CHS tubular beams

External bonding of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites has emerged as a popular technique for strengthening steel structures in recent years. In this study, the non-linear behaviour of circular hollow steel beams bonded with thin carbon FRP sheets was investigated theoretically by including the effect of the amount of CFRP reinforcement, fibre configuration, fibre and adhesive volume fractions and material non-linearity. This paper presents a cross-sectional analysis for the moment–curvature response of CFRP-reinforced steel tubular beams. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the strengthening effect of fibre composites, and are shown to be in reasonable agreement with previous experimental data.