Concrete-filled　steel　tube　possesses　excellent　mechanical　properties　and　has　been　gaining　increasing　attention　for　its　application　in　prefabricated　pier-cap　beam　joints　with　socket　connections.　To　comprehensively　investigate　the　nonlinear　force-displacement　relationship　of　the　prefabricated　pier-cap　beam　joint　with　concrete-filled　steel　tube　socket　connection　under　cyclic　loading,　this　paper　first　developed　a　mechanical　analysis　model　for　the　joint.　The　deformation　equation　of　the　socket　connection　segment　was　derived　based　on　Timoshenko　beam　theory,　resulting　in　the　establishment　of　the　skeleton　curve　model　for　the　joint.　Additionally,　the　finite　element　model　of　the　joint　was　developed　to　analyze　the　parameters　and　fit　the　unloading　stiffness　equation　of　the　joint.　The　nonlinear　hysteresis　model　of　the　joint　was　ultimately　established　by　incorporating　the　hysteresis　rule　accounting　for　the　pinching　effect.　The　model　accurately　represented　the　joint＇s　force-displacement　relationship　under　cyclic　loading,　thereby　providing　theoretical　support　for　the　application　of　the　joints　in　medium　and　high　seismic　regions.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd