The　multi-bolted　web-flange　splices　were　studied　in　terms　of　evaluating　the　load　distribution　among　bolt　rows　of　two　simply　supported　types,　i.e.,　four-point　bending　and　three-point　bending,　as　well　as　the　effects　of　different　simply　supported　types　on　the　bolt-transferred　loads.　Firstly,　the　stress　distribution　of　bolted　regions　which　were　located　on　the　splice　plates　and　the　upper　flanges,　was　preliminarily　estimated　by　means　of　the　strain　gauge　electric　testing　technique.　Then,　three-dimensional　finite　element　models　were　constructed　with　ABAQUS　software　to　simulate　and　analyze　the　behaviors　of　the　load　distribution　among　bolt　rows.　The　results　reveal　that　the　load　distribution　characteristics　of　four-point　bending　specimens　are　obviously　different　from　those　of　three-point　bending　specimens.　For　four-point　bending　specimens,　the　load　distribution　of　bolt　rows　on　splice　plates　or　the　upper　flanges　is　almost　symmetrical.　But　what　is　different　about　three-point　bending　specimens　is　that　the　asymmetrical　structures　along　the　length　direction　of　specimens　result　in　an　asymmetry　of　load　distribution.　Besides,　whether　the　four-point　bending　specimens　or　the　three-point　bending　specimens,　the　load　distribution　of　unilateral　bolt　rows　located　on　splice　plates　is　＇bathtub-shaped＇　with　the　edge　rows　carrying　more　amount　of　load　than　the　inner　ones.　Furthermore,　for　bolt　rows　located　on　upper　flanges,　the　nearer　to　the　butt　surface　of　two　I-beams,　the　smaller　the　bolt-transferred　load　will　be　and　vice　versa.　©　2019,　China　Mechanical　Engineering　Magazine　Office.　All　right　reserved.