Split-tee, through-bolted connections between rectangular concrete-filled steel tubes and wide-flange steel beams were investigated to determine the ability of the concrete core within the panel-zone to transfer join shear forces. By depending on the confined concrete core within the joint for shear transfer, additional labor-intensive details such as exterior diaphragms and internal stiffeners could be avoided. The objective of this research program was to quantify the extent to which the confined concrete core, or compression strut, plays a role in the transfer of joint forces, and to ultimately develop design guidelines and criteria for use in building codes. The testing procedures used are described, and some preliminary results of full-scale moment connection tests are presented. Further analysis of the results will be used to develop design code recommendations in a future paper.
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