There　are　a　huge　number　of　bolted　joints　used　in　engineering　applications.　However,　unreasonable　design　and　use　may　lead　to　degradation　and　failure　of　the　connected　structure.　Herein,　finite　element　analysis　method　is　used　to　investigate　the　influence　of　various　factors　on　the　mechanical　properties　of　bolted　joints.　To　simulate　the　actual　assembly　and　loading　process,　different　analysis　steps　were　considered,　given　as:　tightening　step,　initial　lose　step　and　the　loading　step.　In　the　loading　step,　transverse　load　is　applied　to　obtain　the　force-displacement　curve.　Structural　parameters,　i.e.　clamping　force,　effective　clamp　length　and　assembly　clearance,　and　coefficients　of　friction　of　all　the　contact　surfaces　are　considered　in　the　finite　element　analysis.　The　results　showed　that　the　performance　of　the　bolted　joint　under　transverse　loading　exhibits　different　stages,　and　this　agrees　well　with　the　results　of　our　previous　experimental　results.　Through　the　analysis　of　the　force-displacement　curves,　the　characterization　parameters　for　the　mechanical　properties　of　the　bolted　joint　can　be　extracted,　such　as　curve　form,　tangential　stiffness,　slip　distance,　transverse　load　threshold,　etc.　The　characterization　and　evaluation　of　the　mechanical　properties　integrates　the　process　from　design　to　service,　which　helps　to　provide　reference　for　the　reliability　design　and　performance　improvement　of　bolted　joints.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd