Bolted　joints　are　the　most　typical　form　of　a　combination　of　department　in　the　machine.　The　mechanism　of　bolted　action　is　extremely　complex,　which　is　determined　by　many　factors.　While　it　plays　a　critical　role　in　the　overall　performance　of　the　machine,　to　study　the　static　and　dynamic　characteristics　is　of　great　significance　for　the　national　machine＇s　innovative　design　and　independent　research　and　development.　Over　the　past　three　decades,　the　characteristics　of　bolted　joints　are　figured　out,　and　its　internal　mechanism　and　main　factors　are　clarified,　but　it　is　far　away　from　truly　establishing　the　constitutive　model　and　obtaining　common　data.　Therefore,　a　systematic　analysis　and　of　a　summary　the　existing　research　results　is　made.　Early　studies　concentrate　on　the　equivalent　linearization　of　bolted　joints　characteristics.　In　recent　years,　most　researchers　turn　to　study　the　nonlinear　characteristics　for　the　nature　of　strong　nonlinearity　of　bolted　joints.　Based　on　the　two　directions,　experimental　and　theoretical　study,　physical　modeling　and　parameter　identification,　and　the　engineering　applications　of　early　research　of　bolted　joints　are　reviewed.　The　assumptions　and　their　advantages　and　disadvantages　are　compared,　the　current　shortcomings　of　the　studies　are　summarized,　and　future　research　prospects　are　concluded.　©　2013　Journal　of　Mechanical　Engineering.