Abstract: A kind of prefabricated steel-frame-joint with a Z-shaped cantilever beam splicing is presented. The basic specimen is designed by the base of slip energy dissipation, and six specimens are obtained by changing the key parameters. The low-reversed loading tests of six such specimens are conducted. The joint failure modes and splicing slippages are analyzed; the hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, energy dissipation capacity, rotational capacity and stiffness degradation of the joint are obtained. The results show that the connection with a Z-shaped cantilever-beam splicing is a semi-rigid connection, and that the deformation performance of the connection is good. The joint can utilize the frictional slipping of a splicing, and the bearing of bolts to the hole-surfaces and plates can dissipate energy effectively. The appropriate reduction of the number of flange high-strength bolts can improve the ductility performance and plastic rotation capacity of joints. The oversized bolt holes are used instead of standard bolt holes and the triangular vertical stiffeners are used instead of internal diaphragms which have little impact on the energy dissipation capacity and carrying capacity of the joint.