This　paper　investigates　the　performance　of　circular　concrete-filled　steel　tubes　(CFST)　externally　reinforced　by　carbon　fibre　reinforced　polymer　(CFRP)　sheets　under　the　combined　actions　of　tension　and　bending.　The　strengthening　effect　of　CFRP　layers　was　examined　through　tensile　tests　of　19　CFST　specimens.　The　main　experimental　parameters　include　fibre　orientation,　load　eccentricity,　number　of　CFRP　layers　and　anchorage　system　of　CFRP　sheets.　A　finite　element　analysis　(FEA)　model　was　developed　to　conduct　mechanism　analysis　and　parametric　analysis　of　the　composite　members　investigated.　In　general,　CFRP　with　fibres　oriented　in　the　longitudinal　direction　is　very　efficient　in　increasing　the　strength　of　the　CFST　member.　On　the　other　hand,　a　wrapped　CFST　member　strengthened　at　±45°　angles　to　the　longitudinal　axis　has　the　largest　deformation　capacity.　Finally,　a　simplified　strength　model　was　proposed　to　predict　the　load-carrying　capacity　of　CFRP-reinforced　CFST　members　under　combined　tension　and　bending.　©　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.