This　paper　presents　an　experimental　study　on　a　bolted　joint　for　connecting　H-section　steel　beams　to　square　hollow　structural　steel　(HSS)　columns　and　connecting　upper　and　lower　HSS　columns　in　a　multi-storey　prefabricated　steel　structure.　The　components　within　a　module　are　welded　together　in　the　factory,　and　the　modules　are　assembled　on　site　using　high-strength　bolts.　A　rigid　connection　or　a　semi-rigid　connection　can　be　achieved　by　adjusting　the　number　and　size　of　bolts.　The　stiffness　of　semi-rigid　bolted　connection　changes　with　the　load.　The　connection　is　rigid　during　minor　and　moderate　earthquakes,　whereas　during　major　earthquakes,　the　cover　plate　slips　relative　to　the　beam　flange　to　dissipate　energy.　In　this　paper,　model　tests　and　finite　element　analysis　(FEA)　of　the　seismic　performance　under　cyclic　loads　are　conducted　on　six　full-scale　connections,　and　the　results　are　compared　with　the　results　of　a　welded　connection.　The　failure　mode,　slip　behaviour,　variation　and　distribution　of　the　bolt　tensions,　and　seismic　performance　of　the　connections,　including　the　hysteretic　behaviour,　skeleton　curve,　ductility,　rotational　capacity　and　stiffness　degradation,　are　obtained.　The　influences　of　the　number　of　bolts　and　the　thickness　of　cover　plate　on　the　mechanical　and　seismic　properties　are　studied.　The　results　show　that　a　reasonable　larger　bolt　hole　can　facilitate　the　installation　and　improve　the　ductility　and　energy　dissipation　capability　without　significantly　affecting　the　load-carrying　capacity　of　the　connection.　The　results　show　that　the　proposed　bolted　connection　has　good　hysteresis　behaviour,　energy　dissipation　and　ductility.　It　is　suitable　for　earthquake-resistant　structures.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.