Hinge　joint　damage　is　a　typical　form　of　damage　occurring　in　simply　supported　slab　bridges,　which　can　present　adverse　effects　on　the　overall　force　distribution　of　the　structure.　However,　damage　identification　methods　of　hinge　joint　damage　are　still　limited.　In　this　study,　a　damage　identification　algorithm　for　simply　supported　hinged-slab　bridges　based　on　the　modified　hinge　plate　method　(MHPM)　and　artificial　bee　colony　(ABC)　algorithms　was　proposed　by　considering　the　effect　of　hinge　damage　conditions　on　the　lateral　load　distribution　(LLD)　of　structures.　Firstly,　MHPM　was　proposed　and　demonstrated,　which　is　based　on　a　traditional　hinge　plate　method　by　introducing　relative　displacement　as　a　damage　factor　to　simulate　hinge　joint　damage.　The　effectiveness　of　MHPM　was　verified　through　comparison　with　the　finite　element　method　(FEM).　Secondly,　damage　identification　was　treated　as　the　inverse　problem　of　calculating　the　LLD　in　damage　conditions　of　simply　supported　slab　bridges.　Four　ABC　algorithms　were　chosen　to　solve　the　problem　due　to　its　simple　structure,　ease　of　implementation,　and　robustness.　Comparisons　of　convergence　speed　and　identification　accuracy　with　genetic　algorithm　and　particle　swarm　optimization　were　also　conducted.　Finally,　hinged　bridges　composed　of　four　and　seven　slabs　were　studied　as　numerical　examples　to　account　for　the　feasibility　and　correctness　of　the　proposed　method.　The　simulation　results　revealed　that　the　proposed　algorithm　could　identify　the　location　and　degree　of　damaged　joints　efficiently　and　precisely.　©　2018　by　the　authors.