This　paper　presents　a　study　on　shear　resistance　of　high-strength　steel　bolted　connections　with　reduced　tightening.　The　double　shear　test　was　conducted　with　108　specimens　of　high-strength　steel　bolted　connections,　including　96　steel　bolted　connections　with　different　torque　reduction　percentages　and　12　steel　bolted　connections　under　standard　torque　as　a　control　group.　The　main　variables　of　the　test　include　the　percentage　reduction　of　tightening　torque,　steel　bolt　type,　high-strength　steel　bolt　grade　and　steel　plate　surface　treatment.　The　effects　of　four　parameters　on　the　failure　mode,　strain　distribution,　slip　resistance,　shear　capacity,　initial　stiffness　and　ductility　of　high-strength　steel　bolted　connections　under　loading　are　studied.　The　test　results　indicate　that　the　slip　resistance　and　the　shear　capacity　of　the　specimens　are　decreased　with　decreasing　of　tightening　torque　degraded　rapidly.　In　the　bolt　loading　stage,　the　stiffness　of　the　steel　bolted　connections　is　decreased　with　the　reduction　of　tightening　torque,　and　decreasing　rate　of　the　stiffness　is　increased　with　the　decrease　of　tightening　torque.　Nevertheless,　the　ductility　of　the　steel　bolted　connections　is　increased　with　the　reduction　of　the　tightening　torque.　Among　these　effects　of　the　four　variables,　the　degree　of　reduction　of　the　tightening　torque　has　the　greatest　effect　on　the　shear　capacity　of　the　specimen.　The　strength　grade　of　high-strength　steel　bolts　and　the　surface　treatment　method　have　the　second　effect　on　the　shear　capacity.　In　addition,　the　calculated　formula　of　ultimate　capacity　was　provided　in　this　study.　The　calculated　results　were　in　good　agreement　with　the　test　result.　Furthermore,　the　finite　element　model　was　provided　to　simulate　and　analyze　the　shear　behavior　of　high-strength　steel　bolted　connection　with　reduced　tightening.　©　2021