A　thorough　understanding　of　the　interaction　mechanism　between　the　concrete　core　and　fiber-reinforced　polymer　(FRP)　jacket　in　FRP-confined　concrete　columns　is　crucial　for　accurate　prediction　of　compressive　strength.　This　paper　investigated　the　interaction　mechanism　between　the　components　from　the　perspective　of　energy　path.　Firstly,　the　theoretical　expression　for　the　energy　paths　in　FRP-confined　concrete　columns　was　derived　based　on　the　thermodynamic　theory.　Furthermore,　the　energy　paths　of　FRP-confined　concrete　columns　with　different　numbers　of　FRP　jacket　layers　and　concrete　strengths　were　conducted　experimentally.　The　results　indicated　that　the　energy　path　correlates　with　the　axial　stress　in　the　concrete　and　exhibits　more　sensitive　to　changes　in　the　elastic　modulus　of　the　FRP　jacket　as　well　as　the　D/　ratio.　The　confinement　effectiveness　of　the　FRP　jacket　was　found　to　be　more　pronounced　for　specimens　with　smaller　concrete　dominance　indicators　(K),　which　are　determined　by　the　D/t　ratio　and　the　concrete　strength.　Based　on　both　theoretical　analysis　and　experimental　results,　an　energy　path–based　compressive　strength　model　for　FRP-confined　concrete　was　proposed.　The　model　was　validated　against　an　experimental　database.　The　results　suggest　that　the　proposed　model　outperforms　previous　models　in　terms　of　accuracy.　©　2024　Institution　of　Structural　Engineers