To analyse the complex block shear behaviour of coped beams with a bolted connection, a numerical study of the block shear strength of coped beams was carried out. In this paper, the finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out and the results were compared with the experimental data inYam et al. (2011). Seven full-scale coped beam test results were employed to examine the effect of different connection specimens, including double clip angles, tee-sections and a single angle. In the models, the bolted connectionswere simulated by linear spring elements and the block shear failure was represented by removing elements on the corresponding areas observed in the test. High stresses accumulated between the bottom bolt hole and the beam edge and tension fracture was induced at the ultimate load. The criterion for the tension fracture was determined by the maximum principal stress at the edge of the bottom bolt hole, which was comparable with the true fracture stress of the beam web. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group.