Behaviour of flush end plate connections to concrete-filled tubular columns with blind bolts

This paper presents a novel bolted moment connection for circular or square concrete-filled steel tube column and H-shape steel beams using high-strength blind bolts. In order to investigate the performance and failure modes of the blind bolted connection, an experimental program was conducted involving four sub-assemblages of cruciform beam-to-column joints subjected to monotonic loading. Moment-rotation relationships of the tested connections were obtained and their performance was evaluated in terms of their stiffness, moment capacities and ductility. The test parameters varied were the column section type and the thickness of the endplate. The results show that the proposed blind bolted connection, which is semi-rigid and partial strength, has reasonable strength, stiffness and ductility and can be a reliable and effective solution to moment-resisting composite frame structures.