Title:
Performance of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Doweled Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement under Static and Cyclic Loadings
Author(s):
Brahim Benmokrane, Ehab A. Ahmed, Mathieu Montaigu, and Denis Thebeau
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
111
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
331-342
Keywords:
cyclic; design; dowel; fiber-reinforced polymers; field application; joint; joint effectiveness; pavement; static
DOI:
10.14359/51686525
Date:
3/1/2014
Abstract:
Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowel bars are a non-corrodible and maintenance-free alternative that will potentially reduce the life-cycle cost of jointed plain-concrete pavement (JPCP), especially in harsh environmental conditions. This paper investigates the performance of GFRP dowels in JPCP under static and cyclic loads. In addition, it compares their behavior with that of commonly used epoxy-coated steel dowels. GFRP and epoxy-coated steel dowels were employed in fabricating a total of six JPCP prototypes (slab-joint). The test prototypes measured 2440 mm long x 610 mm wide x 254 mm deep (96 x 24 x 10 in.). The slabs were cast with a butted joint; each test prototype contained two dowel bars. The test parameters included: 1) dowel-bar type (GFRP and epoxy-coated steel); 2) dowel-bar diameter (34.9 and 38.1 mm [1.38 and 1.50 in.] for GFRP; 28.6 mm [1.13 in.] for epoxy-coated steel); and 3) loading scheme (static and cyclic). The test results revealed that both 34.9 and 38.1 mm (1.38 and 1.50 in.) GFRP dowels showed crack patterns and failure modes similar to those of the epoxy-coated steel dowels. The 34.9 and 38.1 mm (1.38 and 1.50 in.) GFRP dowels and 28.6 mm (1.13 in.) epoxy-coated steel dowels were not affected by 1,000,000 cycles between 10 and 50 kN (2.25 and 11.24 kip). In addition, both the 34.9 and 38.1 mm (1.38 and 1.50 in.) GFRP dowels showed higher joint effectiveness than that of the 28.6 mm (1.13 in.) epoxy-coated steel dowels. This paper also discusses the results of a field application in which the GFRP dowels were implemented in a new concrete-pavement highway in Mirabel, QC, Canada.