A methodology has been developed to analyse and to optimize the resonance peak amplitudes and frequencies for essentially nonlinear periodic vibrations of jointed structures. The frequency domain analysis of realistic finite element models of jointed structures which can contain millions of degrees of freedom is performed. The detailed description of friction, gap and other types of the nonlinear contact interfaces in jointed structures is provided by contact interface elements. The resonance peak characteristics are calculated directly as functions of several parameters of contact interfaces and excitation. The efficiency of the methodology is demonstrated on a representative set of practical test cases