A　series　of　pseudo-static　tensile　tests　were　performed　on　the　push-on　joints　of　ductile　iron　water　pipeline　specimens　to　investigate　the　axial　mechanical　properties　and　failure　mechanism　of　the　joints.　A　new　finite　element　model　for　the　push-on　joint　was　also　developed　in　this　study.　The　pseudo-static　tests　were　carried　out　on　the　push-on　joints　of　ductile　iron　pipeline　specimens　using　both　monotonic　and　cyclic　loading　to　investigate　the　behavior　of　the　joints　under　repetitive　axial　loading,　such　as　seismic　loads　during　an　earthquake　event.　It　was　found　that　the　effects　of　the　different　loading　protocols　and　internal　water　pressure　on　the　axial　response　and　failure　modes　of　the　push-on　joint　were　negligible　in　this　experimental　study.　The　tension　displacement　limit　of　the　joints　reached　60　cm.　Finally,　a　new　finite　element　joint　model　was　developed　in　OpenSees　to　simulate　the　axial　behavior　of　the　push-on　joint　observed　during　the　experiments.　The　proposed　numerical　joint　model　can　well　capture　the　characteristic　axial　response　of　the　joint,　such　as　axial　stiffness　degradation　and　energy　dissipation.　Both　the　experimental　and　numerical　results　provide　a　support　in　assessing　the　performance　of　the　push-on　joints　of　water　pipelines　subjected　to　complex　axial　loading.　©　2019,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.