This　paper　introduces　an　innovative　one-sided　bolt　with　ellipse　head　and　examines　its　mechanical　performance　based　on　experimental　and　numerical　studies　of　double　lapped　joint　configuration.　The　design　of　one-sided　bolt　mechanism　and　geometry　was　completed　through　detailed　Finite　Element　(FE)　analysis　considering　contact　behaviours　and　bolt　pre-tensioning.　Four　bolt　head　geometries　were　assessed　and　comparatively　studied　in　terms　of　yielding　capacity,　slip　distance　and　stress　concentration;　and　two　bolt　diameters　and　two　installation　configurations　were　introduced　for　each　bolt　head　geometry.　Experiments　were　then　conducted　based　on　the　specimens　manufactured　with　the　optimised　geometry　for　validation　of　the　design　and　installation　considerations,　with　comparison　to　ordinary　bolts.　It　was　found　that　the　optimal　aspect　ratio　of　the　ellipse　bolt　head　is　about　1.7　and　orthotropic　installation　configuration　was　recommended.　Such　innovative　one-sided　bolts　with　simple　manufacturing　and　installation　sequence　exhibit　comparable　shear　performance　with　ordinary　bolts,　enabling　the　use　of　closed　sections　for　construction　with　easy　assembly　and　disassembly.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.