The　integrity　and　bearing　capacity　of　segment　joints　in　shield　tunnels　are　associated　closely　with　the　mechanical　properties　of　the　joints.　This　study　focuses　on　the　mechanical　characteristics　and　mechanism　of　a　bolted　circumferential　joint　during　the　entire　bearing　process.　Simplified　analytical　algorithms　for　four　stress　stages　are　established　to　describe　the　bearing　behaviors　of　the　joint　under　a　compressive　bending　load.　A　height　adjustment　coefficient,　&　alpha;,　for　the　outer　concrete　compression　zone　is　introduced　into　a　simplified　analytical　model.　Factors　affecting　&　alpha;　are　determined,　and　the　degree　of　influence　of　these　factors　is　investigated　via　orthogonal　numerical　simulations.　The　numerical　results　show　that　&　alpha;　can　be　specified　as　approximately　0.2　for　most　metro　shield　tunnels　in　China.　Subsequently,　a　case　study　is　performed　to　verify　the　rationality　of　the　simplified　theoretical　analysis　for　the　segment　joint　via　numerical　simulations　and　experiments.　Using　the　proposed　simplified　analytical　algorithms,　a　parametric　investigation　is　conducted　to　discuss　the　factors　affecting　the　ultimate　compressive　bending　capacity　of　the　joint.　The　method　for　optimizing　the　joint　flexural　stiffness　is　clarified.　The　results　of　this　study　can　provide　a　theoretical　basis　for　optimizing　the　design　and　prediciting　the　damage　of　bolted　segment　joints　in　shield　tunnels.