The paper gives a bibliographical review of finite element methods applied for the analysis of fastening and joining from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. The bibliography at the end of the paper contains 726 references to papers and conference proceedings on the subject that were published between 1990 and 2002. These are classified in the following categories: Pin joints, thread connections, bolted joints, screws, nuts, rivets, fittings, tubular joints, expansion joints, gaskets, and other types of fastening. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.