This　paper　presents　an　innovative　bolt　model　suitable　for　the　three　dimensional　finite　element　analysis　(FEA)　of　the　semirigid　beam-to-column　bolted　connections.　The　model　is　particularly　useful　for　the　moment-rotation　relationship　of　beam-tocolumn　connections,　especially　in　cases　where　the　connectors　such　as　endplates,　angles,　T-stubs,　are　not　particularly　thin.　In　this　paper,　the　bolt　tensile　behavior　is　firstly　discussed　by　using　a　refined　finite　element　model,　in　which　the　complex　geometries　of　both　external　and　internal　threads　were　modeled.　Then,　the　bolt　behavior　predicted　by　the　commonly　used　models　was　compared　with　that　of　the　refined　FEA　to　appraise　the　accuracy　of　these　models.　The　comparison　shows　most　of　the　models　commonly　used　can　not　predict　accurately　the　axial　stiffness,　carrying　capacity　and　ductility　of　bolt　simultaneously.　Afterwards,　an　innovative　bolt　model　was　proposed　and　the　model　accorded　with　the　refined　FEA　for　single　bolts.　Finally,　the　proposed　model　was　applied　to　analyze　the　moment-rotation　behavior　of　several　experimented　and　well　documented　connections　with　different　configurations.　The　results　indicate　that　the　proposed　model　is　feasible　and　efficient.　©　KSSC　and　Springer　2012.