Bond Properties of Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Dowel Bars in Jointed Concrete

Abstract

Dowel bars installed at the transverse joints of concrete slabs reduce the deflection and stress at the joint edges while transferring the traffic load from one slab to the next. We used draw-out and push-back tests to simulate the movement of a glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowel bar installed in a horizontal linear section of a concrete pavement undergoing repeated shrinkage and expansion movements. The tests were carried out on three different sizes and shapes of dowel bar. The pull-out strength was lower in GFRP dowel bars with an elliptical cross section, which would be a better fit as a load transfer device in concrete pavement. Since they do not restrict shrinkage and expansion of concrete pavement and allows free movement, they would prevent destruction of a concrete slab by curling.