Labbane, Ramzi2019-08-202019-08-202019-06https://hdl.handle.net/11299/206158University of Minnesota M.S. thesis.June 2019. Major: Civil Engineering. Advisor: Arturo Schultz. 1 computer file (PDF); xii, 172 pages.Advanced manufacturing techniques, such as plasma cutting and water jet cutting, have not been fully capitalized on by the steel construction industry. These precise cutting techniques have the potential to transform how steel structures are designed and constructed. An innovative interlocking (herein referred to as “intermeshed”) steel connection system that relies on neither bolting nor welding has been proposed. The intermeshed connection was designed to resist loads typical in steel moment frames, and four full-scale beam specimens utilizing this connection as a splice were fabricated using precise, fully automated cutting techniques. An experimental testing program was conducted with these specimens to study the behavior of intermeshed connections under gravity loads. The experimental investigation demonstrated how different components of an intermeshed connection may interact to create a strong yet robust connection that exhibits stable and ductile response to vertical loading. The results of this study highlight how the steel construction industry can harness the advantages of advanced manufacturing techniques for intermeshed connections.enThesis or Dissertation