Mastering the impact of vehicle-bridge coupling vibration on the mechanical properties and durability of early-age concrete is crucial for implementing effective countermeasures based on the extent of damage. This vibration typically occurs during bridge widening and reinforcement projects, particularly when employing a half-width construction and half-width traffic. This review summarizes recent advancements on the concrete performance changes and modulation under vibration environments induced by vehicles or trains, focusing on the characteristics of vehicle-bridge coupling vibration, the evolution of concrete properties, its underlying mechanisms, and the existing modulation measures. The aim is to thoroughly analyze the impact of vehicle-bridge coupling vibration on the concrete performance and explore the corresponding modulation strategies, thus providing theoretical guidance and design references for such construction methods.

The spatial variation in bridge vibration response is affected by a combination of factors, including structural modal characteristics, vehicle speed and load position, as well as boundary conditions. The vibration of a bridge is closely related to its structural design, and the stiffness and the natural frequency decrease as the span increases, leading to larger vibration amplitudes. Vibrations exhibit a significant spatial non-uniformity, with the dominant vertical response and the most pronounced vibration at mid-span. An increase in vehicle speed and load enhances the impact effect, potentially exciting higher modes and even causing resonance, further amplifying the vibration amplitude. The expansion joints at the ends of the bridge and the junctions between new and old bridge sections, due to differences in connection status or structural discontinuity, are prone to local disturbances or resonance phenomena, intensifying the vibration response.

Vehicle-bridge coupling vibration significantly affects the structure and performance of concrete, and the interaction between these factors is closely related. Vibration leads to the migration of material components, reducing the yield stress of the cement paste, which in turn causes segregation and affects the stability of mechanical properties. Moderate vibration refines the pore structure, enhancing density and improving concrete performance, while high-intensity vibration coarsens the pores, induces cracks, and reduces overall performance. Moderate vibration can also damage the semi-permeable membrane layer on the cement surface, promoting cement hydration, generating more C-S-H gel, and improving the performance. However, excessive vibration or vibration during sensitive periods can disrupt the gel interconnections, weakening concrete performance. High-intensity and sensitive-period vibrations further damage the interfacial transition zone, increase porosity, and induce microcracks, thus leading to a significant performance degradation.

Modulation measures for vehicle-bridge coupling vibration mainly include reducing the disturbance time, enhancing material toughness, and improving self-healing ability. Reducing disturbance time can be achieved by using early-strength agents/cement or composite admixtures/cement, enabling concrete to gain strength quickly and resist the adverse effects of vibration. Enhancing material toughness can be achieved via incorporating steel fibers, synthetic fibers, basalt fibers, or other materials, improving the stress transfer and crack modulation ability of concrete. Improving self-healing ability involves activating hydration reactions or releasing repair substances during the early stages of crack formation to seal microcracks, restoring material structural integrity and improving service stability. Moreover, reducing disturbance time and enhancing material toughness are applied in engineering with the significant results.