Repair of damaged hinge joints in hollow slab bridges using local prestress from U-shaped Fe-SMA rebars

DONG Zhi-qiang; ZOU Cui; SUN Xin-liang; ZHU Hong

doi:10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2026.127

Volume 26 Issue 6

Jun. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering > 2026 > 26(6): 72-89

Next Previous

DONG Zhi-qiang, ZOU Cui, SUN Xin-liang, ZHU Hong. Repair of damaged hinge joints in hollow slab bridges using local prestress from U-shaped Fe-SMA rebars[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2026, 26(6): 72-89. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2026.127

Citation:

DONG Zhi-qiang, ZOU Cui, SUN Xin-liang, ZHU Hong. Repair of damaged hinge joints in hollow slab bridges using local prestress from U-shaped Fe-SMA rebars[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2026, 26(6): 72-89. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2026.127

Citation:

PDF( 25539 KB)

Repair of damaged hinge joints in hollow slab bridges using local prestress from U-shaped Fe-SMA rebars

doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2026.127

DONG Zhi-qiang^{1, 2
,
,},
ZOU Cui^{1, 2},
SUN Xin-liang^{1, 2},
ZHU Hong^{1, 2}

1.
Key Laboratory of Concrete and Pre-stressed Concrete Structures of Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, Jiangsu, China
2.
National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Construction and Maintenance, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, Jiangsu, China

Funds:

Excellent Youth Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20230088

National Natural Science Foundation of China 52378139

National Key R & D Program of China 2024YFD1600404

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities 2242022k30031

"Zhishan" Young Scholars Program of Southeast University 2242025RCB0007

More Information

Corresponding author: DONG Zhi-qiang, associate professor, PhD, E-mail: zhiqiang.dong@seu.edu.cn
Received Date: 2025-07-10
Accepted Date: 2025-11-27
Rev Recd Date: 2025-09-30
Publish Date: 2026-06-28

Abstract

Abstract

To investigate the repair effect of local prestress generated by iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) rebars on damaged hinge joints in hollow slab bridges, a rapid repair method for damaged hinge joints based on the local prestress technique using Fe-SMA rebars was proposed. In this method, the conventional U-shaped rebars originally arranged in the hinge joints were replaced with U-shaped Fe-SMA rebars, and the local transverse prestress generated after thermal activation was utilized to rapidly restore the transverse load transfer performance of the hinge joints. A 1/4-scale model consisting of six hollow slab beams was constructed, damage was artificially introduced into the hinge joints, and static loading tests were conducted under multiple loading conditions. The proposed method was then used to repair the damaged hinge joints, and the above loading tests were repeated. An ultimate loading test was finally carried out on slab beam No. 4. Finite element analysis was also conducted to evaluate the repair effect under different levels of hinge joint damage and Fe-SMA recovery stress. The experimental and finite element analysis results show that hinge joint damage significantly weakens the load transfer performance, leading to irregular fluctuations in the load transverse distribution coefficient under various loading conditions. After repair, the load transverse distribution tends to be uniform. The midspan deflection of the loaded slab beams decreases by 23.2%-33.7%, the peak value of the load transverse distribution coefficient decreases by 14.29%-27.17%, and the longitudinal reinforcement strain decreases by 25.6%-34.0%. As the damage level increases, the load transfer capacity of the hinge joints decreases, and their condition transitions from intact to damaged. After applying a local prestress of 330 MPa, the load transfer capacity of the hinge joints under various damage levels is essentially restored to the intact level. Increasing the recovery stress of the Fe-SMA rebars enhances the load transfer performance. However, excessively high prestress increases the interfacial stress level, and the enhancement effect gradually approaches saturation.
- bridge engineering,
- hinge joint in hollow slab bridge,
- experimental study,
- transverse load transfer performance,
- iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA),
- local prestress,
- damage repair

FullText(HTML)

References(68)

References

[1]	WU Qing-xiong, CHEN Yue-chi, CHEN Kang-ming. Failure mode analysis of hinged voided slab with gate-type steel rebars at bottom of junction surface[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2015, 15(5): 15-25. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2015.05.003
[2]	YOUSIF Z, HINDI R. AASHTO-LRFD live load distribution for beam-and-slab bridges: Limitations and applicability[J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2007, 12(6): 765-773. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702(2007)12:6(765)
[3]	JIANG H Z, WANG Y C, LIU Q R, et al. Research on the transverse collaborative working performance of hollow slab bridges enhanced by channel steel and prestressed CFRP tendons[J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2025, 22: e04218. doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04218
[4]	SHEN Q, KANG A H, XIAO P, et al. Applied research on hinged joint damage evaluation of hollow slab bridge based on acceleration amplitude ratio‍[J]. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 2020, 768(3): 032005. doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/768/3/032005
[5]	YI H B, LI C X, DAI L. Experimental study on the shear performance of shallow hinge joints for prefabricated hollow slab bridges[J]. Advances in Civil Engineering, 2018, 2018: 3962942. doi: 10.1155/2018/3962942
[6]	CHEN Yue-chi, WU Qing-xiong, CHEN Bao-chun. Failure mode of hinged joint in assembly voided slab bridge by finite element analysis[J]. Engineering Mechanics, 2014, 31(S1): 51-58.
[7]	JIANG H B, DONG X T, FANG Z C, et al. Experimental study on shear behavior of a UHPC connection between adjacent precast prestressed concrete voided beams[J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2020, 25(12): 04020106. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001644
[8]	YUAN J Q, GRAYBEAL B. Full-scale testing of shear key details for precast concrete box-beam bridges[J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2016, 21(9): 04016043. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000906
[9]	LIU Jie, CHEN Xu-yong, BU Yang-min, et al. Experimental study on shear behavior of new coarse aggregate UHPC hinge joint of hollow slab bridge[J]. China Journal of Highway and Transport, 2022, 35(9): 298-310.
[10]	ZHANG J, YI T H, QU C X, et al. Detecting hinge joint damage in hollow slab bridges using mode shapes extracted from vehicle response‍[J]. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 2022, 36: 04021109. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001694
[11]	HE Jun, WANG Zi-tong, HE Yao-bei, et al. Research review on demountable shear connectors for prefabricated steel-concrete composite beams[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2025, 25(5): 180-207. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2025.05.013
[12]	LI Cong, MAO Qing-chao, HU Wen-xu, et al. Shear test on interface of steel-UHPC composite slab with hybrid connection of headed stud and adhesive[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2025, 25(5): 278-296. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2025.05.019
[13]	XU Yu-long, HUANG Zhe-biao, GONG Zhi-quan, et al. Bending experiments of shallow hinge joints of hollow slab girder bridge strengthened with UHPC [J]. China Civil Engineering Journal, 2026, 59(5): 92-99.
[14]	YE Jian-shu, LIU Jiu-sheng, YU Bo, et al. Experiment on shear property of hinge joints of concrete hollow slab[J]. Journal of Highway and Transportation Research and Development, 2013, 30(6): 33-39.
[15]	LI L G, MA Z J, GRIFFEY M E, et al. Improved longitudinal joint details in decked bulb Tees for accelerated bridge construction: Concept development[J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2010, 15(3): 327-336. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000067
[16]	TANG X X, XU Y, XU Z, et al. Experimental study of ultimate bearing capacity of hinged plates with different configuration hinge joints[J]. Advanced Materials Research, 2010, 163/164/165/166/167: 1186-1191.
[17]	CHEN J H, LI X, ZHU Q, et al. Experimental research on mechanical behavior and strengthening technologies of joints in hollow-core slab bridge[J]. Structures, 2023, 49: 223-239. doi: 10.1016/j.istruc.2023.01.103
[18]	WU Qing-xiong, HUANG Wan-kun, WANG Qu, et al. Mechanical performance and design calculation method of prefabricated voided slab bridge with transverse post-tensioning[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2022, 22(6): 130-142. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2022.06.008
[19]	WANG J F, CHEN C L, XIANG H W, et al. Performance of the transverse connectivity in simply supported girder bridges and its strengthening strategy[J]. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 2017, 31(5): 04017081. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001071
[20]	YE W Y, LI F Y. Study on the structural performance of UHPC pavement and hinge joint reinforcement for hollow slab girder bridges[J]. Applied Sciences, 2022, 12(23): 12008. doi: 10.3390/app122312008
[21]	LIU H K, LI J, TAO X W, et al. Research on assessment of hollow slab bridge hinge joint damage and reinforcement method based on steel strip-tie rod clamping[J]. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2024, 20: e02885. doi: 10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e02885
[22]	DONG Z Q, LIU Z Q, JI J H, et al. Characterization of self-prestressing iron-based shape memory alloy bars for new structures‍[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2023, 371: 130795. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.130795
[23]	QIANG X H, WU Y P, WANG Y H, et al. Research progress and applications of Fe-Mn-Si-based shape memory alloys on reinforcing steel and concrete bridges[J]. Applied Sciences, 2023, 13(6): 3404. doi: 10.3390/app13063404
[24]	BARONI L F S, SILVA R, VACCHI G S, et al. Influence of Ce on the corrosion properties of Fe-Mn-Si-based shape memory stainless steel[J]. Materials Today Communications, 2020, 25: 101649. doi: 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.101649
[25]	QIANG Xu-hong, WU Ya-peng, JIANG Xu. Experimental investigation on mechanical properties and activation-recovery performance of Fe-based shape memory alloys[J]. Journal of Tongji University (Natural Science), 2023, 51(5): 718-727.
[26]	ZHU Hong, LIU Zi-qing, DONG Zhi-qiang, et al. New prestressing technology based on iron-based shape memory alloys and its application in engineering[J]. Journal of Southeast University (Natural Science Edition), 2022, 52(2): 402-416.
[27]	GHAFOORI E, HOSSEINI E, LEINENBACH C, et al. Fatigue behavior of a Fe-Mn-Si shape memory alloy used for prestressed strengthening[J]. Materials & Design, 2017, 133: 349-362.
[28]	CLADERA A, WEBER B, LEINENBACH C, et al. Iron-based shape memory alloys for civil engineering structures: An overview[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2014, 63: 281-293. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.04.032
[29]	SHAHVERDI M, RAZA S, GHAFOORI E, et al. Recent advancements in development and application of an iron-based shape memory alloy at empa[J]. Chimia, 2022, 76(3): 242. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2022.242
[30]	YAQUB M A, CZADERSKI C, MATTHYS S. Shear strengthening of precast prestressed bridge I-girders using shape memory reinforcement‍[J]. Engineering Structures, 2024, 305: 117743. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.117743
[31]	CZADERSKI C, SHAHVERDI M, MICHELS J. Iron based shape memory alloys as shear reinforcement for bridge girders[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2021, 274: 121793. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121793
[32]	HONG K N, JI S W, YEON Y M. Predicting the shear behavior of reinforced concrete beams with Fe-based shape memory alloy stirrups[J]. Engineering Structures, 2023, 293: 116644. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116644
[33]	JI S W, YEON Y M, HONG K N. Shear performance of RC beams reinforced with Fe-based shape memory alloy stirrups[J]. Materials, 2022, 15(5): 1703. doi: 10.3390/ma15051703
[34]	LIU Z Q, ZHU H, DONG Z Q, et al. Experimental investigation on shear behavior of I-shaped concrete beam with Fe-SMA rebars‍[J]. Engineering Structures, 2024, 321: 119021. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.119021
[35]	YEON Y, JI S, HONG K. Uniaxial compressive behavior of concrete column actively confined with internal Fe-SMA spirals[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 418: 135393. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.135393
[36]	CUI C S, DONG Z Q, ZHU H, et al. Axial compressive behavior of UHPC columns reinforced with self-prestressed Fe-SMA spiral stirrups[J]. Structures, 2025, 77: 109107. doi: 10.1016/j.istruc.2025.109107
[37]	JI J H, DONG Z Q, LIU Z Q, et al. Feasibility of using Fe-SMA rebar as cracking resistance spiral stirrup in the anchorage zone of post-tensioned prestressed concrete[J]. Structures, 2023, 48: 823-838. doi: 10.1016/j.istruc.2023.01.011
[38]	HOULT R, PACHECO DE ALMEIDA J. Ongoing experimental programmes on RC walls reinforced with iron-based shape memory alloy rebars[C]//IAEE. Proceedings of the 18th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Milan: IAEE, 2024: 1-12.
[39]	PACHECO DE ALMEIDA J, HOULT R, BERTHOLET A, et al. Shake-table testing of two U-shaped RC walls: overview of the project ERIES-ALL4wALL[C]//IAEE. Proceedings of the 18th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Milan: IAEE, 2024: 1-12.
[40]	RAZA S, WIDMANN R, MICHELS J, et al. Self-centering technique for existing concrete bridge columns using prestressed iron-based shape memory alloy reinforcement[J]. Engineering Structures, 2023, 294: 116799. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116799
[41]	VAHEDI M, ZOLFAGHARYSARAVI S, EBRAHIMIAN H, et al. Experimental-analytical investigation of accelerated bridge construction concrete columns with self-centering Fe-SMA bars subjected to near-fault ground motions[J]. Engineering Structures, 2024, 299: 117127. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.117127
[42]	QIANG X H, WU Y P, WANG Y H, et al. Novel crack repair method of steel bridge diaphragm employing Fe-SMA[J]. Engineering Structures, 2023, 292: 116548. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2023.116548
[43]	IZADI M, MOTAVALLI M, GHAFOORI E. Iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) for fatigue strengthening of cracked steel bridge connections[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2019, 227: 116800. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.116800
[44]	IZADI M, MOTAVALLI M, GHAFOORI E. Thermally-activated shape memory alloys for retrofitting bridge double-angle connections[J]. Engineering Structures, 2021, 245: 112827. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112827
[45]	BU Yi-zhi, AN Lang, CUI Chuang, et al. A Fe-SMA-based fabricated active reinforcement method for fatigue cracks in steel bridge decks[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 2022, 22(6): 84-94. doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2022.06.005
[46]	SUN X L, DONG Z Q, ZOU C, et al. Hinge joint performance in hollow-core slab bridges transversely strengthened with local near-surface mounted iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) bars[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 455: 139181. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.139181
[47]	SUN X L, DONG Z Q, ZOU C, et al. Performance of hinge joints in hollow-core slab bridges reinforced with iron-based shape memory alloy U-bars[J]. Structures, 2024, 70: 107613. doi: 10.1016/j.istruc.2024.107613
[48]	SUN Y, DONG Z Q, ZHU H, et al. Investigation on effective prestress in Fe-SMA bars and flexural behaviour of damaged T-shaped RC beams strengthened by NSM method[J]. Structures, 2025, 72: 108289. doi: 10.1016/j.istruc.2025.108289
[49]	WEI Yang, HU Sheng-fei, WU Gang, et al. Test and study of assembly hollow slab bridges strengthened with transverse prestressing and grouting[J]. Highway, 2014, 59(6): 143-149.
[50]	LIU Z Q, DONG Z Q, SUN Y, et al. Effect of resistive heating on the bond properties between iron-based shape memory bars and cement mortar[J]. Journal of Building Engineering, 2023, 66: 105895. doi: 10.1016/j.jobe.2023.105895
[51]	TERZIOGLU T, HUESTE M B D, MANDER J B. Live load distribution factors for spread slab beam bridges[J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2017, 22(10): 04017067. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001100
[52]	GUO A P, ZHU H Q, JIANG A J. Detection and damage evaluation of hinge joints in hollow slab bridges based on a light-load field test[J]. Buildings, 2023, 13(3): 699. doi: 10.3390/buildings13030699
[53]	NGUYEN H T N, TAN K H, KANDA T. Effect of polypropylene and steel fibers on web-shear resistance of deep concrete hollow-core slabs[J]. Engineering Structures, 2020, 210: 110273. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.110273
[54]	SEMENDARY A A, HAMID W K, STEINBERG E P, et al. Shear friction performance between high strength concrete (HSC) and ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) for bridge connection applications[J]. Engineering Structures, 2020, 205: 110122. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.110122
[55]	ZHU H Q, LIU Y H, GUO A P. A modified cohesion-friction model for simulating the contact behaviours of hinge joints in hollow-slab bridges[J]. Materials and Structures, 2024, 57(10): 214. doi: 10.1617/s11527-024-02498-5
[56]	CEB-FIP model code 1990: Design code[M]. London: Thomas Telford Publishing, 1993.
[57]	ABOUALI S, SHAHVERDI M, GHASSEMIEH M, et al. Nonlinear simulation of reinforced concrete beams retrofitted by near-surface mounted iron-based shape memory alloys[J]. Engineering Structures, 2019, 187: 133-148. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.02.060
[58]	CORNELISSEN H A W, HORDIJK D A, REINHARDT H W. Experimental determination of crack softening characteristics of normal-weight and light-weight concrete[J]. Heron, 1986, 31(2): 45-56.
[59]	DONG Z Q, JI J H, ZHAO Z A, et al. The numerical simulation study on the Fe-SMA-strengthened PCCP with broken wires[J]. Construction and Building Materials, 2024, 449: 138376. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.138376
[60]	KHALIL A, ELKAFRAWY M, ABUZAID W, et al. Flexural performance of RC beams strengthened with pre-stressed iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) bars: Numerical study[J]. Buildings, 2022, 12(12): 2228. doi: 10.3390/buildings12122228
[61]	DOLATABADI N, SHAHVERDI M, GHASSEMIEH M, et al. RC structures strengthened by an iron-based shape memory alloy embedded in a shotcrete layer: Nonlinear finite element modeling[J]. Materials, 2020, 13(23): 5504. doi: 10.3390/ma13235504
[62]	SARGAND S M, WALSH K K, HUSSEIN H H, et al. Modeling the shear connection in adjacent box-beam bridges with ultrahigh-performance concrete joints. Ⅱ: Load transfer mechanism[J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 2017, 22(8): 04017044. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001071
[63]	GUO A P, ZHU H Q, JIANG A J. A modified lateral load distribution model for hollow slab bridges considering the connecting effect of hinge joints[J]. Structures, 2024, 60: 105889. doi: 10.1016/j.istruc.2024.105889
[64]	ELHAROUNEY O, ELKATEB M, KHALIL A. Behaviour of prestressed hollow core slabs strengthened with NSM CFRP strips around openings: A finite element investigation[J]. Engineering Structures, 2021, 238: 112262. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112262
[65]	DONG Z Q, ZOU C, SUN X L, et al. Fe-SMA prestressed strengthening of damaged transverse hinge joints in hollow slab bridges[J]. Engineering Structures, 2025, 343: 121006. doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121006
[66]	HU H, WANG J J, DONG C Z, et al. A hybrid method for damage detection and condition assessment of hinge joints in hollow slab bridges using physical models and vision-based measurements‍[J]. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 2023, 183: 109631. doi: 10.1016/j.ymssp.2022.109631
[67]	LI S L, YANG H X, GUO P, et al. Damage identification of hinge joint in hollow slab bridge based on model updating and orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm‍[J]. Measurement, 2024, 224: 113867. doi: 10.1016/j.measurement.2023.113867
[68]	QIAN Yin-quan, ZHOU Zheng-mao, GE Wei-ming, et al. Deterioration inspection of hinge joints based on relative displacement method‍[J]. Journal of Highway and Transportation Research and Development, 2012, 29(7): 76-81.

Relative Articles

Supplements(0)

Cited By

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Article Metrics

Article views (85) PDF downloads(21)

Repair of damaged hinge joints in hollow slab bridges using local prestress from U-shaped Fe-SMA rebars

doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2026.127

Abstract

References

Catalog

Article Metrics

Related

Repair of damaged hinge joints in hollow slab bridges using local prestress from U-shaped Fe-SMA rebars

doi: 10.19818/j.cnki.1671-1637.2026.127

Abstract

References

Catalog

Article Metrics

Related

Export File

Citation

Format

Content