Under actual service conditions, particularly during natural hazards, loads acting on pipelines are often applied rapidly, intermittently, and in successive stages rather than in a uniform and standardized manner.In this study,to simulate this realistic loading pattern, the mechanical behavior of GFRP-strengthened steel pipes subjected to stepwise tensile loading with intermediate holding periods was investigated at loading rates of50, 100, 150,and200 mm/min.The primary objective was to evaluate the effects of loading rate and stepwise loading history on the ultimate joint capacity.The results showed that the maximum shear stresses under stepwise loading at loading rates of50, 100, 150,and200mm/min were5.485, 4.463, 4.724,and 4.424MPa, respectively.Although the overall trend of the results indicates a reduction in ultimate capacity with increasing loading rate, a slight increase in shear stress was observed at150 mm/min compared with that at100 mm/min. Comparison of the different loading stages also showed that the initial stages were the most sensitive to increasing loading rate; in Stage 1, the shear stress at loading rates of100,150, and200 mm/min was55%, 66%,and82% lower, respectively, than that at50 mm/min.Analysis of stress relaxation further showed that the magnitude of stress reduction during the holding periods decreased with increasing loading rate; in Stage1the stress reduction at100, 150, and200mm/min was24%,55%, and70%lower, respectively, than that at50 mm/min.Overall, the results indicate that increasing the loading rate generally leads to a reduction in load-carrying capacity and a decrease in stress reduction during the holding periods, with these effects being more pronounced during the early stages of stepwise loading than during the later stages.