This paper analyzes the shear strength of the bolted rock joint contributed by the axial force and transverse shear force. The formula of the shear strength of a bolted joint with dilatancy is derived using the variational principle of minimum potential energy. The theoretical solutions are verified with the direct shear test of bolted structure. Then the shear strength of the bolted structure is contributed by the axial force and transverse shear force. It is analyzed with different rock mass strengths

bolt diameters

normal stresses and pre-stresses

using this theoretical method. All the relevant analyses show that the computed results agree well with the results of experiment. The shear strength of the jointed structure contributed by the transverse shear force is remarkable. When the bolt inclination increases gradually

the joint shear resistances contributed by the transverse shear force and the axial force increases and decreases respectively. When the bolt inclination is 120°－150°

the joint shear resistance contributed by the axial force is almost zero. The joint shear resistance contributed by the axial force decreases as the rock mass strength and normal stress increase. It increases obviously as the bolt diameter and pre-stress increase. The joint shear strength contributed by the transverse shear force increases as the rock mass strength and bolt diameter increase

but decreases slightly as the pre-stress increases.