Recently, substantial investigations were developed on a polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) confined concrete (PFCC) structure owing to its superior mechanical behavior and durability. However, a convenient and effective joint configuration between the PFCC columns and reinforced concrete (RC) beams still requires in-depth study. In the present work, the seismic performance of an RC beam to PFCC column exterior joint with steel tube connector (STC) is systematically studied. Eleven joint specimens are fabricated and tested, with the steel ratio of STC, reinforcement ratio of the frame beam, axial compression ratio, stirrup ratio of the joint and CFRP strips spacing as the design parameters. The experimental results, that is, 8 the failure modes, hysteretic response, ductility, strength, stiffness and energy dissipation, are analyzed. All specimens exhibit joint shear failure, although the joints with STC exhibit significantly better performance those of ordinary joint. In addition to reducing the axial compression ratio, the reinforcement ratio of the frame beam or increasing the stirrup ratio of the joint can also produce a positive effect. Furthermore, the numerical analysis of the exterior joints is performed; the calculated skeleton curves agree well with the test results, and additional parametric studies (i.e., the diameter, height and concrete strength of the joint) are carried out based on the verified numerical model.

In this study, the quasi-static tests were conducted on 13 core steel tube (CST) reinforced PVC-CFRP confined concrete (PCCC) column-beam interior joints. Distinct shear failure occurred in all joint specimens. The load-displacement hysteresis curves appeared pinching phenomenon, and the shape of hysteresis loops gradually deformed from shuttle to arch and finally changed to reverse S shape. The overall shape of hysteresis curves were relatively full, demonstrating that the joints had favorable seismic performances and energy dissipation capacity. The strain development law of materials in the joint area in the process of stress was clarified. The increment of joint stirrup ratio ([Formula: see text]), axial compression ratio ([Formula: see text]), column reinforcement ratio ([Formula: see text]) or beam reinforcement ratio ([Formula: see text]) improved the calculated shear capacity of the joints. The calculated shear capacity increased first and then decreased slightly as the diameter-thickness ratio of CST ([Formula: see text]) increased. In comparison, spacing of CFRP strip had little impact on the calculated shear capacity. Additionally, the concrete strength enhancement coefficient ([Formula: see text]) and joint stirrup utilization coefficient ([Formula: see text]) were introduced respectively to modify the shear capacity of concrete and joint stirrups, and a simplified formula for predicting the shear capacity of CST reinforced PCCC column-beam interior joints under quasi-static load was proposed. The predicted results agreed well with the test data.