The　shear　performance　of　the　precast　segment　concrete　bridge　depends　largely　on　the　shear　resistance　of　joints　between　adjacent　segments.　However,　the　current　joint　structures　have　the　limitation　of　shear　resistance　strengthening　and　the　inconvenience　of　construction.　To　improve　the　shear　capacity　of　the　joints　and　achieve　quick　construction,　a　novel　castellated　shear　key　incorporating　embedded　steel　plates　is　proposed.　A　total　of　fifteen　single-keyed　dry　joints　were　designed,　including　two　reference　joints　with　a　plain　concrete　key　and　a　reinforced　key　and　thirteen　novel　keys　with　embedded　steel　plates.　Monotonic　push-off　tests　of　joints　with　or　without　shear　keys　were　carried　out.　The　influence　of　design　parameters　of　the　novel　shear　key,　including　heightto-thickness　ratio,　strength,　steel　ratio　of　the　steel　plates　and　bonding　methods　between　concrete　and　steel　plates　on　the　shear　performance　of　the　joints　were　investigated　comprehensively.　The　results　indicated　that　the　reinforcement　of　the　shear　capacity　of　the　joints　with　the　novel　keys　was　8.5%-33.9%　higher　than　that　of　the　joints　with　plain　concrete　keys　due　to　the　yielding　of　the　steel　plates.　As　expected,　the　embedded　steel　plates　in　shear　keys　could　reach　a　shear-yielding　state　when　the　height-to-thickness　ratio　was　larger　than　25　or　the　yield　strength　of　steel　plates　was　lower　than　355　MPa.　A　prediction　formula　of　shear　resistance　capacity　for　the　joints　with　novel　shear　keys　was　proposed　considering　the　contribution　of　concrete　and　steel　plates.　It　showed　good　prediction　accuracy　with　an　average　value　of　0.98　for　the　ratio　of　predicted　to　experimental　values.