Blind bolted collar plate connections to unfilled hollow section columns

This paper presents the results of an experimental program in which a blind bolted collar plate connection to an unfilled hollow section (HS) column was tested in tension under static loading. The collar plate connection which connects beam flanges to the side face of HS columns is proposed as an alternative connection to a typical face connection, i.e. the extended endplate connection or the T-stub connection (with T-stubs connecting the top and bottom flanges of the beam to the face of the column). The collar plate connection was found to be much stiffer than a typical face connection in the tension region.. Comparison of the test results and three dimensional finite element (FE) modelling indicates that the FE analysis can be used to predict the connection behaviour with sufficient accuracy. The preliminary investigations for collar plate connection show promising results and form the basis for the development of other blind bolted side connections for applications in the low rise construction industry.