Abstract
A full-scale jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) with two different dowel bar arrangements, namely, standard and special method, was constructed and evaluated under actual traffic-environmental condition in Florida. For standard dowel bar arrangement, dowel bars spaced at 304.8 mm (12 in), while three dowel bars spaced at 304.8 mm (12 in) only within the wheel paths were installed for special dowel bar arrangement. Field performance evaluation was conducted in terms of longitudinal crack, transverse crack, corner crack, spalling, and load transfer efficiency (LTE). Also, a three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) model was developed to evaluate change in structural response characteristics due to different dowel bar arrangements under the critical loading condition. The developed FE model was used to perform a parametric analysis to determine the effects of different dowel bar arrangements. Results indicated that no significant changes in pavement structural responses, including the slab stresses and deflections, were predicted between two dowel bar arrangements that may result in no significant difference in expected performance for the test slabs evaluated, and this matched well with results of field performance evaluation. Also, it was indicated that the base modulus plays an important role on the dowel-joint behavior and stiffer base condition could significantly improve the dowel-joint performance. Therefore, when the base layer is stiff enough to support the slab deflection and resist erosion (e.g., AC layer), special dowel bar arrangement could provide similar performance as compared to standard dowel bar arrangement that result in significant cost savings without any negative effects on expected pavement performance.
Highlights
1.1 BackgroundDowel bars are commonly used in jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCP) as a load transfer device across joints, especially for pavements with heavy traffic
Results indicated that no significant changes in pavement structural responses, including the slab stresses and deflections, were predicted between two dowel bar arrangements that may result in no significant difference in expected performance for the test slabs evaluated, and this matched well with results of field performance evaluation
The 3-D finite element (FE) model developed was used to evaluate the effects of the different dowel bar arrangements on the structural response characteristics of the JPCP
Summary
Dowel bars are commonly used in jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCP) as a load transfer device across joints, especially for pavements with heavy traffic. The primary advantage of dowel bars is to transfer load without restricting horizontal joint movements due to temperature and moisture expansion and contraction in the concrete slabs. Dowel bars play a role to maintain the vertical and horizontal alignment of slabs. The load transfer efficiency depends on a number of dowel-joint parameters, including modulus of dowel support, dowel bar diameter, dowel length, dowel bar spacing, dowel looseness, joint opening width, and subgrade strength University, 215-302 Yeosungro 97gil 431, Daejeon 34059, South Korea. Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, P.O. Box 116580, Weil Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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