Because　of　the　difficulty　of　accessing　the　interior　of　structural　hollow　sections,　emerging　technology　using　blind　bolts　has　been　recently　developed　for　fabricating　connections　to　concrete-filled　steel　tubular　(CFST)　columns.　However,　two　issues　limit　the　structural　benefits　of　this　joint　system　including　the　limited　transfer　of　hogging　moment　and　high　susceptibility　of　the　steel　tube　to　local　failure.　Therefore,　the　authors　proposed　four　methods　to　enhance　the　CFST　column＇s　stiffness　in　the　connection　region,　namely,　using　inner　binding　bars,　welding　two　internal　rings,　externally　welding　two　C-shaped　channels,　and　internally　embedding　a　short　segment　of　I-section　in　the　steel　tube.　A　total　of　6　joints　were　tested　under　cyclic　loading　accordingly.　The　experimental　results　are　analysed　in　this　paper　to　evaluate　the　efficiency　of　different　stiffening　methods.　It　indicates　that　the　C-shaped　channels　and　embedded　I-section　are　very　effective　in　enhancing　the　performance　of　the　joint,　and　the　joint＇s　strength　and　deformation　capacity　can　be　significantly　improved　with　large　bending　deformation　developed　in　the　end　plate.　In　contrast,　welding　binding　bars　or　internal　rings　has　only　moderate　influence　on　the　joint　performance.　©　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.