Structural support member having a tapered interface

A structural member for a moment-resisting frame, said structural member comprising:

• a first hollow segment comprising at least one first sidewall that extends from a first end along a longitudinal direction and defines a first cavity, said at least one first sidewall defining a female end section and comprising a female end surface at said first end, said female end surface oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction;
• and
• a second hollow segment comprising at least one second sidewall that extends from a second end along the longitudinal direction and defines a second cavity, said at least one second sidewall defining:
• a male end section adjacent said second end and received within said first cavity;
• and
• a stop surface offset longitudinally from said second end and bearing against said female end surface in substantially face-to-face contact, wherein said stop surface and said male end section are integrally formed and monolithic, wherein said at least one second sidewall comprises an interior surface facing said second cavity and an exterior surface facing outwardly opposite said interior surface of said at least one second sidewall, wherein said exterior surface of said at least one second sidewall tapers transversely inwardly, complementary to said at least one first sidewall, along said male end section towards said second end, wherein said at least one second sidewall further defines a second intermediate section contiguous with said male end section, wherein said interior surface of said at least one second sidewall tapers transversely inwardly along said second intermediate section towards said male end section, and wherein said exterior surface of said at least one second sidewall tapers transversely outwardly along said second intermediate section towards said male end section such that a thickness of said at least one second sidewall is continuously increased along said second intermediate section towards said male end section.

A structural member for a moment-resisting frame, said structural member comprising:

• a first hollow segment comprising at least one first sidewall that extends from a first end along a longitudinal direction and defines a first cavity, said at least one first sidewall defining a female end section and comprising a female end surface at said first end, said female end surface oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction;
• a first intermediate section defined by said at least one first sidewall, wherein an interior surface of said at least one first sidewall tapers transversely outwardly along said first intermediate section away from said female end section, and wherein said first intermediate section and said female end section are integrally formed and monolithic;
• and
• a second hollow segment comprising at least one second sidewall that extends from a second end along the longitudinal direction and defines a second cavity, said at least one second sidewall defining:
• a male end section adjacent said second end and received within said first cavity;
• and
• a stop surface offset longitudinally from said second end and bearing against said female end surface in substantially face-to-face contact, wherein said stop surface and said male end section are integrally formed and monolithic.

A method of forming a structural member, said method comprising:

• unitarily casting a female end section including at least one first sidewall that extends from a first end along a longitudinal direction and defines a first cavity, the at least one first sidewall defining a female end section and comprising a female end surface at the first end, the female end surface oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein said step of unitarily casting the female end section further comprises casting the at least one first sidewall to further define a first intermediate section contiguous with the female end section, wherein an interior surface of the at least one first sidewall tapers transversely outwardly along the first intermediate section away from the female end section;
• unitarily casting a male end section including at least one second sidewall that extends from a second end along the longitudinal direction and defines a second cavity, the at least one second sidewall defining:
• a male end section adjacent the second end and configured to be received within the first cavity;
• and
• a stop surface offset longitudinally from the second end and oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction;
• forming a first hollow segment that includes the unitarily cast female end section;
• forming a second hollow segment that includes the unitarily cast male end section;
• and
• coupling together the first and second hollow segments, comprising inserting the male end section into the female end section such that:
• the at least one second sidewall of the male end section is oriented in adjacent, substantially face-to-face relationship with the at least one first sidewall of the female end section;
• and
• the female end surface bears against the stop surface in substantially face-to-face contact.