An　innovative　beam-column　π-shaped　joint,　which　was　suitable　for　the　low-rise　prefabricated　lightweight　steel　composite　structure,　was　proposed　in　this　paper.　Firstly,　with　consideration　of　the　variables　of　the　column　type,　bending　stiffness　ratio　between　the　beam　and　π-shaped　connector,　π-limb　length,　perforated　end　plate　thickness,　and　with　or　without　web　connecting　plate,　twelve　π-shaped　joint　specimens　were　prepared　and　their　seismic　behavior　was　experimentally　investigated　in　aspects　of　failure　mode,　hysteretic　performances,　ultimate　moment,　stiffness　degradation,　deformation　capacity,　energy　dissipation　capacity,　and　strain　response.　Then　the　numerical　model　of　the　π-shaped　joint　was　established　and　validated　with　the　test　data,　which　facilitates　the　further　investigation　of　the　influence　of　the　bending　stiffness　ratio,　π-limb　length,　and　perforated　end　plate　thickness　on　the　seismic　performance　of　the　π-shaped　joint.　The　test　results　showed　that　the　application　of　the　CFST　column　could　improve　the　ultimate　moment,　initial　stiffness,　and　energy　dissipation　of　the　π-shaped　joint　compared　to　the　SHS　column.　Meanwhile,　the　introduction　of　the　web　connecting　plate　could　avoid　the　separation　of　beam　and　column,　resulting　in　a　significant　improvement　in　the　seismic　performance　of　the　π-shaped　joint.　The　test　and　numerical　results　demonstrated　that　decreasing　the　bending　stiffness　ratio,　increasing　the　π-limb　length　and　perforated　end　plate　thickness　was　beneficial　to　further　improve　the　seismic　behavior　of　the　π-shaped　joint,　and　their　corresponding　suggested　values　were　also　provided　in　the　present　study.　©　2023　Institution　of　Structural　Engineers