Research, Development, and TechnologyTurner-Fairbank Highway Research Center6300 Georgetown PikeMcLean, VA 22101-2296Design and Evaluation of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement with Fiber Reinforced Polymer DowelsPubliCation no. FHWa-HRt-06-106 SEPtEMbER 2009 FOREWORD This study evaluates fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) dowel bars as load transferring devices in jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) under HS25 static and fatigue loads and compares their response with JPCP consisting of steel dowels. Along with laboratory and field evaluations of JPCP with FRP and steel dowels, analytical modeling of dowel response has been carried out in terms of maximum bending deflection, relative deflection, and bearing stress of dowels. Response of concrete pavement with FRP dowels is investigated through laboratory experiments and field implementation. This research showed that JPCP with FRP dowels provided very good load transfer efficiency (LTE). JPCP with FRP dowels provided sufficient LTE after 5 million cycles of fatigue tests under HS25 loading conducted in the Major Units Laboratory of West Virginia University. Cheryl Allen Richter Acting Director, Office of Infrastructure Research and Development Notice This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document. Quality Assurance Statement The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement. TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1. Report No. FHWA-HRT-06-106 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipients Catalog No. 4. Title and Subtitle Design and Evaluation of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement with Fiber Reinforced Polymer Dowels 5. Report Date September 2009 6. Performing Organization Code: 7. Author(s) Vijay, P.V., Hota V.S. GangaRao, and Li, H.8. Performing Organization Report No. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address Constructed Facilities Center Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering West Virginia University Morgantown, WV 26506 10. Work Unit No. 11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-99-X-00078 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Office of Research and Technology Services Federal Highway Administration 6300 Georgetown Pike McLean, VA 22101-2296 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report, November 1999 to July 2003 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Insert FHWA sponsoring agency office code (i.e., HRTS-01) 15. Supplementary Notes FHWA Contracting Officers Technical Representative (COTR): Peter Kopac, Pavement Materials and Construction Team 16. Abstract This study evaluates fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) dowel bars as load transferring devices in jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) under HS25 static and fatigue loads and compares their response with JPCP consisting of steel dowels. Along with laboratory and field evaluations of JPCP with FRP and steel dowels, analytical modeling of dowel response was carried out in terms of maximum bending deflection, relative deflection (RD), and bearing stress of dowels. In addition, field rehabilitation of JPCP was carried out using FRP dowels to evaluate its long-term performance. Laboratory tests included static and fatigue load application corresponding to HS25 load and 1.5 times HS25 load on concrete slabs (27.94- and 30.48-cm (11- and 12-inch) depth) with 3.81- and 2.54-cm (1.5- and 1.0-inch) steel and FRP dowels at different spacings (30.48 and 15.24 cm (12 and 6 inches). Both 3.81- and 2.54-cm (1.5- and 1.0-inch)-diameter FRP dowels were installed in the field with 15.24-, 20.32-, 22.86-, and 30.48-cm (6-, 8-, 9-, and 12-inch) spacings. Load calibrated field tests were conducted on these pavements using a West Virginia Department of Transportation truck in 2002 and 2003. FRP dowel bars that were 1.5 inches in diameter were also used for pavement rehabilitation. Field data collected through an automatic data acquisition system included strain and joint deflections, which were used for assessing joint load transfer efficiency (LTE), joint RD, and pavement performance. Theoretical calculations are provided through different examples for JPCP with FRP and steel dowels by varying dowel diameters, spacing, dowel material properties, joint width, and base material properties. This research showed that JPCP wi