Bolt　load　in　a　bolted　connection　directly　influence　the　safety　of　a　design　in　regard　to　both　static　and　fatigue　loading　as　well　as　in　the　prevention　of　separation　in　the　connection.　When　the　separating　force　is　applied　off　the　bolt　center,　although　the　materials　for　the　bolted　joint　remain　in　the　linear　elastic　range,　the　interface　contact　area　between　the　clamped　plates　is　sensitive　to　both　the　magnitude　and　the　location　of　the　separating　force.　This　often　causes　nonlinear　variation　of　the　bolt　load,　the　deformation　etc.　An　analytical　model　is　proposed　to　obtain　the　expression　for　the　nonlinear　bolt　load　under　a　separating　service　load.　Finite　element　modeling　is　used　for　evaluating　the　accuracy　of　the　proposed　model.