The　joint　consisting　of　the　chord　and　web　member　is　a　key　point　in　the　concrete-filled　steel　tube　(CFST)　arch　bridge.　In　this　paper,　the　force　transfer　mechanism　of　joint　in　CFST　arch　bridges　was　studied　by　finite　element　method.　Five　refined　finite　element　(FE)　models　for　the　joint　were　developed.　The　interaction　between　steel　tube　and　core　concrete,　geometric　nonlinearity　and　material　nonlinearity　were　considered.　The　study　parameters　included　interface　condition　between　the　steel　and　concrete　(bonding　and　debonding),　inner　studs　(with　and　without　inner　studs)　on　the　internal　surface　of　the　chord　and　the　diameter　of　web　member.　Finite　element　analysis　(FEA)　reveals　the　influence　range　of　interface　debonding,　inner　studs　and　the　diameter　of　web　member　at　the　joint.　Besides,　reasonable　suggestions　for　spacing　of　the　stud　in　the　joint　was　proposed.　Specifically,　20　degrees　in　the　circumferential　direction　and　9.3　times　stud　diameter　in　the　longitudinal　direction　were　advised.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG　2025.