Threaded　fasteners　are　widely　used　in　a　variety　of　engineering　applications.　The　quality　of　threaded　connections　directly　affects　the　service　performance.　By　aiming　to　acquiring　a　deeper　understanding　of　the　performance　characteristics,　the　mechanical　behavior　of　bolted　joint　was　examined　using　transverse　tensile　test.　The　force--displacement　curves　of　bolted　joints　exhibit　linear　characteristics　during　the　first　stage,　while　subsequently　the　curves　exhibit　various　shapes　due　to　assembly　clearance.　The　tangential　stiffness　of　the　bolted　joint　decreases　rapidly　when　the　connected　plate　slips.　And　the　transverse　load　threshold　between　various　stages　is　positively　correlated　with　the　clamping　force　of　threaded　fastener.　The　experimental　data　was　fitted　to　obtain　a　piecewise　function　that　characterizes　the　entire　slip　curve　of　bolted　joints　under　transverse　loading.　Main　characterization　parameters　in　various　stages　were　analyzed　and　discussed　based　on　the　experimental　results,　which　can　aid　in　the　design　and　using　of　bolted　joints.