Five　square　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　stub　columns　were　fabricated　and　experimental　tested　under　an　axial　compression　load　in　order　to　study　the　effectiveness　of　strengthening　by　using　prestressed　carbon　fiber　reinforced　polymer　(CFRP)　strips.　The　specimens　tested　included　one　un-strengthened　and　four　strengthened.　Three　specimens　were　strengthened　by　using　prestressed　strips,　and　the　other　one　strengthened　by　using　non-prestressed　was　used　to　compare.　The　prestress　of　the　strip　was　achieved　by　tensed　using　a　special　device　before　it　was　pasted　to　the　column.　The　experimental　data　such　as　the　failure　modes,　load-displacement　curves　and　strain　distribution　of　CFRP　strips　were　obtained.　The　effects　of　prestress　magnitude　of　CFRP　strips　on　the　ultimate　bearing　capacity　and　deformation　capacity　of　the　specimens　were　analyzed.　The　results　show　that　the　prestress　of　CFRP　strips　can　effectively　increase　the　ultimate　capacity　and　delay　the　crack　occurrence　of　the　specimens.　And　ultimate　strain,　plastic　deformation　of　the　specimens　were　also　improved　with　increase　of　prestress　magnitude　of　strip.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.