30This paper presents the effect of geometric parameters on the behavior of bolted GFRP 31 pultruded plates for civil engineering applications. After a literature review, results of an 32 experimental analysis investigating the behavior of GFRP-to-steel single-lap bolted 33 connections are presented. Then, a finite element analysis validated by experimental data is 34 used to evaluate the effects of the end-distance, side-distance, gage, pitch and plate 35 properties on the strength and failure mode of the connection. A critical examination of 36 geometric recommendations proposed in design references is presented. Bearing failure 37 caused by contact of the bolt on the GFRP plate is usually defined as the preferred failure 38 mode. With highly orthotropic plate, this type of failure was found to be less likely to occur 39 when loading is applied in the pultruded direction. The investigation showed that the 40 minimum end-distance and pitch-distance recommended by design references usually 41 produce a connection with the maximum capacity. However, it was found that the 42 minimum side-distance recommended by these references does not necessarily lead to the 43 maximum capacity for one-bolt and for two-bolt in a column connections. 44