NEW YORK'S EXPERIENCE WITH PLASTIC-COATED DOWELS

Because of past difficulties with joint supports in concrete pavements, New York began an investigation of plastic-coated dowels in 1972. This paper describes the construction and early performance of 5 pavements built to satisfy 3 major objectives: first, to identify construction problems related to the dowels; second, to determine if uniform joint movements are maintained; and, third, to determine the long-range corrosion resistance of the dowels. The plastic-coated dowels evaluated have a 2-layer coating of 4 mils (0.1 mm) of asphalt covered by 17 mils (0.4 mm) of polyethylene; they were welded or clipped into basket assemblies and staked to the subbase before paving with a slipform paver. Construction evaluation consisted of observing installation, checking alignment and coating damage, and noting joint cracks after paving. Six dowel samples were removed from the completed pavement for laboratory testing. Joint movement and pavement cracking have been monitored for up to 2 years. Observations and measurements during construction indicate that assemblies of plastic-coated dowels were easy to install and provided satisfactory control of joint crack formation. Some problems with dowel misalignment, damaged coatings, and slippage of coatings off the dowel ends were observed, but these are not considered serious inasmuch as they can be corrected. Performance observations indicate that joints are moving uniformly in all 5 pavements, and no distress has appeared that can be related to the dowels. Based on these observations, plastic-coated dowels show promise as transverse joint load-transfer devices for heavy-duty portland cement concrete pavements.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1975/535/535-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=NEW+YORKS+EXPERIENCE+WITH+PLASTIC-COATED+DOWELS&author=J.+Bryden&author=R.+Phillips&publication_year=1975
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Rigid Pavement Construction. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Bryden, James E
  • Phillips, Richard G
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 14-23
• Monograph Title: Concrete pavement construction and joints and loader-truck production studies
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 535
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt; Building; Concrete pavements; Corrosion resistance; Dowels; Ethylene resins; Facilities; Installation; Joints; Laboratory tests; Measurement; Motion; Pavement cracking; Pavement performance; Paving; Plastic coatings
• Uncontrolled Terms: Polyethylene
• Geographic Terms: New York (State)
• Old TRIS Terms: Joint
• Subject Areas: Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00099907
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309023866
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 5 1975 12:00AM