NUMERICAL STUDY OF DOWELED EXPANSION JOINTS ON PLAIN CONCRETE PAVEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

In this paper, the ABAQUS / CAE 6.13.1 program is used to study the effect of several variables on the efficiency of the load transfer through an expansion joint in a plain concrete pavement system under the influence of the static wheel load. The variables that have been addressed are the diameter of dowel bar (12, 16, and 20 mm), subgrade soil type (A-6) and (A-7-5), concrete type (normal strength concrete and high strength concrete), joint width (10, 20 and 30 mm), the thickness of the concrete slab (125, 175 and 250 mm), the position of static wheel load (corner load, internal load, and edge load) and the effect of soil damage. The results showed, the load transfer efficiency (LTE) and joint effectiveness (E) are enhanced from 69.82% to 89.73% and from 82.23% to 94.59%, respectively as dowel diameter increases from 12 mm to 20 mm, from 60.48% to 79.64% and from 75.37% to 88.66, respectively as joint width decreases from 30 mm to 10 mm, from 64.24% to 89.73% and from 78.23% to 94.59%, respectively as slab thickness decreases from 250 mm to 125 mm and from 69.81% to 79.64% and 82.22% to 88.66%, respectively when CBR value of subgrade soil increases from 5% to 7%, while approximately the same LTE (about 80%) and E (about 89%) have resulted as the concrete compressive strength increases from 27 MPa to 43 MPa. Corner load reduces LTE and E from 84%...