In　the　excavation　projects　with　inner　bracing,　the　commonly　used　active　node　(by　plugging　into　steel　wedges)　has　many　defects,　such　as　poor　integrity,　point　contact,　low　bearing　capacity,　and　weak　stiffness.　It　is　not　helpful　for　the　deformation　and　stability　control　of　deep　excavation.　In　order　to　improve　the　active　node　structure,　an　innovative　Bolt　Fasten　Wedge　(BFW)　active　node　was　developed.　First,　the　structure,　function　and　working　principle　of　the　BFW　active　node　was　introduced.　Its　bearing　capacity　and　stiffness　was　calculated　by　theoretical　derivation　and　its　mechanical　characteristics　were　analyzed　by　numerical　simulation.　Then,　3　sets　of　full-size　specimens　of　the　BFW　active　node　were　designed　and　manufactured.　Elastic　loading　test　and　ultimate　bearing　capacity　loading　test　under　the　most　unfavorable　conditions　were　carried　out　in　the　lab.　The　bearing　capacity　and　stiffness　under　different　adjusting　lengths　and　axial　or　eccentric　loads　were　tested.　The　destruction　form　of　the　specimens　was　investigated.　Finally,　the　bearing　capacity　and　stiffness　of　the　BFW　active　node　were　compared　with　those　of　different　types　of　commonly　used　steel　tube　bracings,　and　the　applicability　of　the　BFW　active　node　was　evaluated.　The　results　show　that　the　BFW　active　node　has　a　simple　structure,　a　clear　way　of　stress,　good　bearing　capacity　and　strong　stiffness;　its　structure　is　proved　to　be　reliable　in　working　principle　by　the　theoretical　analysis,　numerical　simulation　and　laboratory　loading　tests.　Both　the　bearing　capacity　and　stiffness　of　the　BFW　active　node　are　larger　than　those　of　different　types　of　commonly　used　steel　tube　bracings,　which　meets　the　structural　design　concept　of　＇strong　node　and　weak　component＇.　The　BFW　actice　node　described　in　this　paper　is　suitable　for　609/630　steel　tube.　For　800　steel　tube,　a　stronger　type　is　needed.　©　2018,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.