The　energy　dissipation　characteristics　of　bolted　joints　under　dynamic　loading　is　of　great　importance　for　describing　the　complex　mechanical　properties　of　mechanical　system.　Here,　the　hysteresis　nonlinearity　model　of　bolted　joints　is　established　by　the　equivalent　Bouc-Wen　model　and　the　corresponding　calculation　method　of　energy　dissipation　and　the　identification　method　of　Bouc-Wen　model　are　presented.　In　order　to　verify　the　correctness　of　the　methods,　the　experiment　data　of　bolted　joints　is　obtained　by　simulation　of　Mindlin　model.　The　parameters　of　the　Bouc-Wen　model　are　identifed,　and　the　energy　dissipation　characteristics　of　bolted　joints　are　obtained　with　different　forces　controlled.　The　simulation　results　showed　that　the　dimensionless　tangential　load　increase　as　the　energy　dissipation　nonlinear　increase.　The　parameters　of　the　Bouc-Wen　model　have　influence　on　the　energy　dissipation　that　is　related　to　its　sensitivity,　the　more　sensitivity,　the　larger　incremental　rate　of　the　energy　dissipation.　The　parameters　(A,　γ　and　n)　of　the　Bouc-Wen　model　increases　as　the　energy　dissipation　separation　increases,　but　the　parameter　γ　the　opposite.　The　energy　dissipation　characteristics　of　bolted　joints　is　relevant　to　the　parameters　of　the　Bouc-Wen　model,　excitation　frequency　and　amplitude.　The　relationship　between　the　dimensionless　tangential　load　and　the　energy　dissipation　can　be　expressed　as　η=aΓb.　©　2016　Journal　of　Mechanical　Engineering.