To　study　the　seismic　performance　of　non-ductile　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　frames　strengthened　with　carbon　fiber-reinforced　polymer　(CFRP),　two　1/2-scale,　2-bay,　2-story　RC　frames　were　prepared　and　tested　under　combined　axial　load　and　cyclic　lateral　load.　One　of　the　RC　frames　served　as　a　control　specimen　(bare　specimen)　and　the　other　was　strengthened　with　CFRP　sheets　(strengthened　specimen)　at　its　joint　regions.　Based　on　the　hysteretic　curves,　the　envelop　curves,　and　several　important　indexes　(e.g.,　strength,　stiffness,　ductility,　energy　dissipation　capacity)　of　the　two　specimens,　the　performance　of　the　employed　seismic　strengthening　technique　in　improving　the　seismic　performance　of　RC　frames　was　discussed　in　detail.　The　experimental　results　indicated　that　the　externally　bonded　CFRP　reinforcement　had　little　influence　on　the　lateral　stiffness　of　the　RC　frame.　While　the　lateral　strength　of　the　strengthened　RC　frame　increased　by　about　20%　compared　to　the　control　RC　frame.　Furthermore,　it　is　worth　noting　that　the　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　the　strengthened　RC　frame　is　as　much　as　3.01　times　that　of　the　control　RC　frame.　The　test　results　of　the　current　study　indicate　that　the　employed　strengthening　method　can　substantially　improve　the　seismic　performance　of　the　strengthened　RC　frames.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd