This　paper　experimentally　and　numerically　investigates　the　load　introduction　and　shear　transfer　within　steel-encased　concrete-filled　steel　tube　(CFST)　members　with　shear　connections.　The　effects　of　the　cross-sectional　slenderness,　angle　configuration,　column　length　above　and　below　the　connection,　and　the　internal　reinforcing　plate　types　were　evaluated.　The　interfacial　behaviour,　including　the　degradation　and　failure　of　the　chemical　bond　and　the　friction　resistance,　was　simulated　in　the　established　finite　element　(FE)　models,　which　were　validated　against　the　test　results.　Generally,　the　load　introduction　was　developed　from　the　upper　column　and　within　the　full　connection　region,　and　the　shear　force　could　continue　to　transfer　within　each　component　underneath　the　connection.　Compact　members　that　meet　the　load　allocation　requirement　from　the　tube　to　concrete　infill　can　achieve　the　full　design　strength　solely　via　direct　bond　interactions.　An　alternative　transfer　mechanism,　i.e.　direct　bearing,　can　improve　the　interfacial　load　transfer　capacity　when　appropriate　reinforcing　plates　are　used.　The　design　approach　for　the　direct　bond　transfer　mechanism　was　proposed.　The　proposed　approach　can　predict　the　bond　resistance　on　the　interface　between　the　steel　tube　and　concrete　infill　with　reasonable　accuracy.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd