Research on circumferential joint shear damage characteristics of segments with positioning tenon through distributed fiber optic-based sensing technique

•The DFO is applied to monitor the circumferential joint shear tests of segments with positioning tenons.•The circumferential shear failure patterns of segments with positioning tenons are presented.•The damage characteristics of the positioning tenon and its interaction with the segments are revealed.•The main crack shear coefficient is proposed for evaluating residual shear performance. Positioning tenons have been used in more and more subway projects to improve segment assembly performance and to limit the occurrence of common problems between segments. The joints are the weak parts of the segment connection and are often damaged during construction. However, there are limited studies on the joints of segments with positioning tenons, and their damage characteristics have yet to be investigated. In this study, circumferential joint shear damage in segments with positioning tenons is studied and the evolution of the distributed damage is monitored by distributed fiber optics. First of all, the shear performance of segments with positioning tenons is investigated under different axial forces. Particularly, the damage distribution and development of segments subjected to the extrusion of the positioning tenons are analyzed through the strain signals and the macroscopic cracks during the shearing process. Furthermore, the changes in the strain signals of the distributed fiber before shear failure are analyzed. Based on the above study, the failure patterns of the inner surfaces and circumferential joint surfaces of segments with grooves are revealed. The interaction between the positioning tenons and the segments is analyzed, and the damage characteristics of the tenons are obtained. Finally, the main crack shear coefficient is proposed to evaluate the residual shear performance of segments when the macroscopic main crack occurs on the inner surface. This study aims to reveal the interaction between positioning tenons and segments and to promote the application of positioning tenons in subways. Further, it lays the foundation for optimizing the flexible joints of segments in subways and contributes to the safe construction of subway tunnels.