Fire engineering

This paper presents the results of an experimental study that has investigated the strength and stiffness of a moment-resisting connection between a universal steel beam and a concrete-filled RHS (rectangular hollowsection) column. In this connection double built-up tees are blind-bolted to the rectangular hollowsection. Extensions are provided to the Ajax "One-Side" blind bolts to link the connection back into the concrete within the tube, and hence to enhance the stiffness of the connection. The objective of this study is to develop a novel bolted moment connection that is easy to construct for Australian practice. The structural performance of the blind-bolted connection is evaluated in term of the moment-rotation relationship, failure mode, and the deformation pattern within critical components.A simplified component model is developed to predict the initial stiffness of this blind-bolted moment connection. © 2011 Taylor & Francis Group, London.