## 5 Conclusions  
This paper deals with the application of CFRP bars as a beam's longitudinal reinforcement in RC beam-column joint full-scale specimens under cyclic lateral deformations. An experimental investigation that involved two full-scale CFRP-RC joints was conducted and accompanied with eight CFRP bar pull-out tests in order to obtain the bond stress versus slip behavior for the bars. Furthermore, a numerical study was performed. An FE model was developed that could successfully predict the behavior of CFRP-RC joints. Additionally, a comparative study of steel RC joints and CFRP-RC joints was conducted to investigate the potential replacement of the conventional steel reinforcement with CFRP bars. On the basis of the study's findings and discussion, the following conclusions may be drawn:  
1. The experimentally evaluated specimens' load-carrying capacity and load-deflection response could be accurately predicted using the nonlinear FE model provided in this work. The failure mechanism, bond slip of CFRP bars and energy dissipation comparison data demonstrated that the model can properly predict the behavior of CFRP-RC joints.
2. The slippage of the CFRP bars occurs after the reach of the ultimate load and thus does not significantly affect the post failure behavior and the hysteretic performance of the joint. The investigated CFRP-RC joints exhibited a residual strength higher than 35% of the flexural capacity after the occurrence of slippage. However, more investigation must be conducted in order to ensure the post failure mode and overall response of joints with CFRP longitudinal reinforcement bars.
3. The dissipated energy of the CFRP-RC joints increased gradually following the specimen's mode of failure. However, after a certain point the continuous increase up to failure is possibly attributed to the bar slippage. After the reach of an approximate SD = 0.5%, the dissipated energy of the steel-reinforced joints was significantly lower than that of the CFRP-RC joints.  
Overall, the behavior of RC joints with beams' CFRP longitudinal reinforcements indicated promising results and the favorable contribution of the CFRP bars in the seismic performance of RC joints. CFRP bars have great potential of partially or even fully replacing conventional steel bars in RC structural elements. More research must be conducted though in order to form regulations and design specifications so that CFRP bars become widely applicable in the construction industry.  
Conceptualization, C.E.C.; data curation, V.K.K. and P.-M.K.K.; formal analysis, V.K.K. and P.-M.K.K.; investigation, V.K.K., P.-M.K.K. and C.E.C.; methodology, V.K.K. and P.-M.K.K.; project administration, C.E.C.; software, V.K.K.; supervision, C.E.C.; validation, V.K.K.; visualization, V.K.K. and P.-M.K.K.; writing--original draft, V.K.K.; writing--review and editing, C.E.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research received no external funding.  
Not applicable.  
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.  
The contribution of the personnel of the Laboratory of Reinforced Concrete and Seismic Design of Structures in Democritus University of Thrace on the experimental procedure is sincerely appreciated.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.