For　structures　subjected　to　extreme　loading,　such　as　impact,　the　plastic　deformation　of　structural　connections　is　vital　to　life　safety.　Despite　its　importance,　a　loss　of　deformation　capacity　in　connections　via　fracture　of　bolts　has　been　repeatedly　noted　experimentally　and　in　situ.　To　further　investigate　the　residual　strength　of　high-strength　bolted　connections　after　impact　damage,　this　paper　presents　investigations　on　shear　performance　of　high-strength　bolted　connections.　This　is　the　first　study　to　report　strength　and　deformation　performance　for　structural　bolts　after　impact　damage.　A　total　of　144　specimens　were　tested　for　the　study,　with　varying　impact　height,　steel　plate　thickness,　bolt　shank　diameter,　and　high-strength　bolt　grade　as　the　main　variables.　Experimental　results　involving　failure　modes,　strain　development,　and　effect　of　parameters　are　presented　in　detail.　The　observed　failure　mode　is　typical　bolt　shear　failure,　characterized　by　extrusion　deformation　around　the　bolt　hole.　The　increasement　of　the　thickness　of　steel　plate,　the　diameter　of　bolt　shank,　and　grade　of　bolt　would　improve　the　ultimate　strength.　The　shear　stiffness　is　positively　correlated　with　impact　height,　thickness　of　steel　plate　and　grade　of　bolt,　but　the　ductility　is　decreased　with　the　increment　of　thickness　of　steel　plate.　In　addition,　the　results　obtained　from　the　finite　element　simulation　are　in　agreement　with　the　experimental　findings.　The　simulation　analysis　shows　that　the　specimens　after　impact　damage　are　different　from　those　of　conventional　specimens.　Parameters　formulae　are　then　proposed　with　sufficient　accuracy　for　the　ultimate　strength　of　high-strength　bolted　connections　with　impact　damage.　©　2023