Six square FRP–HSC–steel DSTCs are tested under axial and cyclic lateral loading.
Effects of axial load, column aspect ratio, steel tube size and concrete fill are studied.
Square DSTCs exhibit ductile behavior under combined axial compression and cyclic lateral load.
An increase in axial load and a decrease in aspect ratio result in a decrease in the lateral drift capacity.
Concrete-filling the inner steel tube leads to a significant increase in the lateral drift capacity.