The paper experimentally investigates the frictional behaviour of bolted joints with varying preload, inclined bolt head interface, and varying contact area between plates subjected to tangential loading. Experimental result shows a reduction macroslip force and energy dissipation with decrease in bolt preload. Similarly, increase in inclination of bolt bearing surface reduces macroslip force and energy dissipation. The reduction in contact area does not affect the tangential stiffness or frictional energy dissipation when contact pressure profile on plate interface is fully developed. For truncated pressure profile, the reduction in contact area reduces both the tangential stiffness and the energy dissipation. The experiments are conducted to determine the energy dissipation during pinning reveals differential pinning for lower displacements. At higher displacements, the crack initiates into the bolt shank which reduces the energy dissipation. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd