Load transfer across transverse joints has always been into consideration of rigid pavement design. Steel dowels of circular cross-section were the standard load transfer device. Many problems have been related to steel dowels such as corrosion. At the same time, joints are also damaged by repeated loading over time. This research presents an experimental investigation into the comparison between the Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and steel dowel bars placed in the transverse joints of the Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP). The main objective of this study to assess the suitability of using GFRP dowel bars as an alternative corrosion-free material to conventional steel dowels. This research contains a set of variables and conditions in which we can assess which dowel bars are the best. Among these variables is the type of material the dowel bar is made of, whether it is steel or GFRP, and the misalignment method by which the dowel bar stacks in the transverse joints. Conclusion: As expected, the use of GFRP dowel bars improved the bearing of the applied loads exposed on the specimens compared to their counterparts of the specimens with steel dowel bars by about 125%. The experimental results showed that using the horizontal misalignment method was a practical and good method to arrange the dowel bars crossing the transverse joints between JPCP slabs. |
