Composite columns consisting of hollow steel tubes filled with high strength concrete have been used in high rise building construction in the USA and Far East Asian countries. The focus of this research project is to develop moment resisting connection detail for connecting steel beams to composite columns of the type described above. After envisioning the various possible connection details, a through connection detail is suggested. A combination of analytical and experimental investigations is used to identify the behavior of the through connection detail. Based on these results the force transfer mechanism in the connection is identified and a behavioral model is developed. A tentative design approach is then suggested.
