A　kind　of　prefabricated　steel　frame　joint　with　Z-shaped　cantilever　beam　and　reduced　beam　section　is　presented.　The　basic　specimen　is　designed　based　on　the　energy　dissipation　of　spliced　section　and　reduced　beam　section,　and　four　specimens　are　obtained　by　changing　the　key　parameters.　Low　cycle　reversed　loading　tests　of　four　such　specimens　were　conducted,　and　the　static　and　quasi-static　finite　element　analysis　were　carried　out.　The　failure　modes　and　splicing　slippages　of　specimens　were　analyzed;　the　hysteresis　curves,　skeleton　curves,　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　rotational　capacity　of　specimens　were　obtained.　The　results　show　that　the　joint　can　utilize　the　plastic　deformation　of　reduced　beam　section　and　the　slipping　of　splicing　to　dissipate　energy　effectively.　The　failure　modes　of　the　connections　are　tearing　of　bolt　hole　section　or　weld　seam,　local　buckling　of　the　reduced　beam　section　and　torsional-flexural　buckling　of　the　reduced　beam　section.　In　order　to　ensure　the　energy　dissipation　performance　of　the　connection,　the　lateral　restraint　of　the　reduced　beam　section　should　be　strengthened　to　prevent　the　occurrence　of　torsional-flexural　buckling.　It　is　practical　to　use　the　oversized　bolt　holes　in　cantilever　beam　flange　in　order　to　meet　the　requirements　of　convenient　on-site　installation　and　deal　with　the　status　of　the　processing　precision　deficiency.　The　triangular　vertical　stiffeners　can　be　used　instead　of　internal　diaphragms　in　order　to　reduce　the　processing　difficulty.　©　2017,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Building　Structures.　All　right　reserved.