The　difficulty　in　innovating　a　prefabricated　large-span　ridge　tube　cable　dome　with　annular　struts　lies　in　the　development　of　a　novel　connection　node　that　can　connect　＇rigid　and　flexible＇　members,　while　also　meeting　various　important　requirements,　such　as　adequate　stiffness,　simple　structure,　easy　assembly　at　the　construction　site.　In　this　study,　a　novel　prestressed　high-strength　bolt　(PHSB)　joint　system　that　can　connect　＇rigid　and　flexible＇　members　employed　in　a　prefabricated　large-span　ridge　tube　cable　dome　with　annular　struts　(PLRTCDAS)　was　presented.　A　series　of　tests　were　performed　considering　different　disc　thicknesses,　perforated　cross　plate　thicknesses,　perforated　angle　steel　thicknesses,　and　outer　sleeve　heights.　The　moment–rotation　(M–Φ)　curves,　failure　modes,　and　cable　force　variation　curves　of　the　PHSB　joints　were　obtained.　By　comparing　and　discussing　the　main　characteristic　values　of　the　M–Φ　curves,　the　influence　of　parameter　changes　on　the　mechanical　behavior　of　the　novel　joint　was　investigated.　A　three-dimensional　finite　element　(FE)　model　of　the　PHSB　joint　was　established　to　analyze　the　bolt　force,　bending　performance,　and　failure　modes.　A　comparison　between　the　experimental　and　numerical　results　highlights　the　degree　of　accuracy　of　the　proposed　FE　model.　The　results　indicate　that　the　PHSB　joint　exhibits　adequate　stiffness　and　bending　capacity,　which　can　meet　the　mechanical　property　requirements　for　the　joint　employed　in　the　PLRTCDAS.　The　proposed　FE　model　was　demonstrated　to　be　a　reasonable　model　that　can　be　used　to　conduct　parametric　analyses　of　the　PHSB　joint.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd