The　joints　and　connections　of　prefabricated　concrete　structures　are　weak　links　in　an　earthquake　when　compared　with　those　of　cast-in-place　structures.　It　is　necessary　to　develop　innovative　forms　of　joints　and　connection　with　high　performance.　To　this　end,　a　novel-type　prefabricated　joint　with　plastic　controllable　and　replaceable　steel　hinges　was　proposed,　in　which　the　steel　hinges　were　the　key　energy-dissipating　component　of　the　prefabricated　joint.　The　low-cycle　reversed　loading　test　on　the　plastic　controllable　steel　hinges　was　carried　out　to　explore　the　moment-rotation　hysteretic　curve,　skeleton　curve,　bearing　capacity,　rotational　stiffness,　failure　mode,　ductility　and　energy　dissipation　capacity.　In　addition,　the　influence　of　weakening　by　hole　section　of　the　flange　core　plate　on　the　seismic　performance　of　steel　hinges　was　investigated.　The　results　show　that　the　hysterestic　curves　of　the　steel　hinges　in　which　the　flange　core　plates　are　weakened　by　elliptical　hole　or　by　diamond-shaped　hole　are　full.　Both　the　steel　hinges　have　large　energy　dissipation,　good　ductility　and　insignificant　bearing　capacity　degradation.　Plastic　deformation　starts　from　the　most　weakened　section　of　the　flange　core　plate　and　develops　to　the　two　ends　of　the　opening.　The　flange　core　plate　finally　cracks　or　fractures　at　the　most　weakened　section,　achieving　the　controllability　of　plasticity　and　failure　modes.　All　these　ductility,　cumulative　hysteretic　energy　dissipation,　bearing　capacity　degradation　performance,　and　rotation　ability　of　the　elliptical-hole　weakened　steel　hinge　are　better　than　those　of　the　diamond-shaped-hole　weakened　steel　hinge,　but　the　initial　rotational　stiffness　of　the　former　is　less　than　that　of　the　latter.　©　2022,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Building　Structures.　All　right　reserved.