A Comprehensive Review of Hinge Joints in Hollow-core Slab Bridges: Failure Mechanisms, Load-Transfer Behavior and Strengthening Techniques
ChenYu Chang *
School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hinge joints in hollow-core slab bridges are critical transverse links that integrate multiple slabs into a unified bridge structure, yet they are also the most vulnerable weak points prone to deterioration, potentially leading to structural crises through “single-slab behavior.” This comprehensive review systematically examines the global research trajectory across four key areas: joint typology, failure mechanisms, load-transfer theory, and strengthening techniques.
Joint Typology: Research has evolved from shallow joints to deeper configurations and further to composite designs, including tongue-and-groove with shear keys, full-depth UHPC replacements, Fe-SMA self-prestressing, and steel-concrete composites.
Failure Mechanisms: Dominant failure patterns include interfacial bond delamination and shear-uplift mixed-mode cracking, exacerbated by fatigue, freeze-thaw cycles, and overloading.
Load-Transfer Theory: Various methods coexist, including hinge-joint slab methods, rigid-joint slab methods, and fracture mechanics models. The EU shear-uplift interface equation and the AASHTO shear-friction model represent two distinct systems, while Chinese codes lack specific provisions.
Strengthening Techniques: Promising techniques include UHPC overlays, Fe-SMA self-prestressing, and steel-concrete composites, which offer significant improvements in load capacity and durability.
The comparative synthesis reveals a common trend towards enhanced durability through deep joints combined with local prestressing and high-performance materials. Differences among national codes reflect varying priorities in the trade-offs between service life, risk, and traffic interruption. The U.S. emphasizes material performance, Europe focuses on verification, and China prioritizes maintaining traffic flow. The persistent challenge across all techniques is achieving reliable bonding between old and new interfaces. Future research should focus on quantifying interface roughness, developing fatigue-life functions, and designing replaceable modular joints to address these challenges.
Keywords: Hollow-core slab bridge, hinge joint, UHPC, shape memory alloy, steel-shape–concrete composite strengthening, interface bonding, crack control