In recent years, many seismic retrofits have been performed. In case of steel structures, the seismic brace connections are often strengthened to resist the full plastic axial load of braces for the plastic deformation performance. This paper investigates the applicability of CFRP strengthening to the connection between brace and gusset plate with stepped surface using VaRTM technique. We demonstrate the elimination of step and strengthening methods by CFRP layers to transfer the axial stress effectively. Eventually, it is clarified that the CFRP strengthening can improve the connection strength and plastic deformation even if it is molded onto stepped surface.
