Evaluation of Fiber Reinforced Composite Dowel Bars and Stainless Steel Dowel Bars

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General Information
Solicitation Number: 1176
Former Study Number:
Status: End Solicitation Phase
Date Posted: Oct 25, 2007
Last Updated: Nov 04, 2014
Solicitation Expires: Sep 30, 2008
Partners: IL, KS, OH, WI
Lead Organization: Ohio Department of Transportation
Financial Summary
Suggested Contribution:
Commitment Start Year: 2008
Commitment End Year: 2012
100% SP&R Approval: Pending Approval
Commitments Required: $54,000.00
Commitments Received: $54,000.00
Estimated Duration Month: 36
Waiver Requested: No
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Jeffrey Syar
jeffrey.syar@dot.ohio.gov
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
Illinois Department of Transportation 2009 $10,800.00 Mark Gawedzinski Megan Swanson 217-782-3547 Megan.Swanson@illinois.gov
Kansas Department of Transportation 2009 $10,800.00 Andrew Gisi Rodney Montney 785-291-3844 rodney@ksdot.org
Ohio Department of Transportation 2009 $21,600.00 Roger Green Jill Martindale 6146448173 jacquelin.martindale@dot.ohio.gov
Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2009 $10,800.00 Debra Bischoff Lori Richter 608-264-8435 lori.richter@dot.wi.gov

Background

The use of steel dowel bars to transfer forces across sawed or formed transverse joints from one concrete pavement slab to another while permitting expansion and contraction movements of the concrete has been a basic design practice in most U.S. state departments of transportation for many decades. A common problem is the corrosion of the steel dowels, especially in states which use salt for snow and ice control. Corrosion can lead to a reduction in the diameter of the dowel bar in the joint area to the point where the dowel bar will fail in shear when loaded, resulting in faulting of the pavement slab. The corrosion can also "lock" the dowel bar into the concrete, preventing movement of the concrete during expansion and contraction, resulting in the transfer of stress to the concrete which cause the slab to crack. In the mid 1970's, state DOT began to require steel dowel bars be coated with epoxy or other materials to prevent corrosion. Epoxy coated dowels have become the standard for most states. Recently, alternative materials have been used to manufacture dowel bars. While the resistance of some alternative materials have been well documented in laboratory examinations, other performance characteristics affecting service life remain to be fully evaluated, particularly in representative field installations and over meaningful time periods. A program to evaluate two alternative dowel bar materials, stainless steel and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP), was initiated in 1998 by the Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC). Initial field installations of FRP and stainless steel dowel bars began in 1996 in conjunction with the FHWA High Performance Concrete Pavement (TE-30) project. Projects were completed in 4 States; Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin, over a period of 4 years. The last project was completed in 2000. The projects were being evaluated under the May 9, 1998 HITEC evaluation plan. A draft interim report detailing the construction and early performance of the test sections was submitted March, 2005. However, prior to completion of the evaluation, the contract was terminated with the now defunct HITEC. This research shall complete the work initiated by HITEC.

Objectives

The objectives of this study are: o To assess the constructability, placement verification, environmental qualities and performance capabilities of FRP dowels and stainless steel dowels to perform the load transfer and joint movement requirements in concrete pavement joints for the full service life of the pavement without detrimental corrosion or deterioration; and o To consider the comparative performance and service life costs of these alternative materials and epoxy coated mild steel for use in dowel bars.

Scope of Work

Task 1: Revise draft interim report to incorporation review comments and revise evaluation plan to reflect recommendations in the draft interim report. Update annotated literature review. Task 2: Host initial Technical Panel Meeting in Chicago. Discuss the current status of the evaluation and the approach to close out the project. Task 3: Execute the revised evaluation plan. Participating states with evaluation sites will be responsible for collecting data and cores identified in the revised evaluation plan. Task 4: Provide quarterly progress reports until the completion of the evaluation. Task 5: Prepare draft final report Task 6: Host final technical panel meeting in Chicago. Present results of evaluation and discuss draft final report. Task 7: Prepare final report

Comments

Ohio DOT along with a minimum of four other participating states are asked to contribute $10,800 in fiscal year 2008 to fund the research proposed in this pooled fund study.

Documents Attached
Title File/Link Document Category Document Type Privacy Document Date Download
Evaluation of Fiber Reinforced Composite Dowel Bars and Stainless Steel Dowel Bars 1176.pdf TPF Study Documentation Solicitation Public 2011-09-25

Evaluation of Fiber Reinforced Composite Dowel Bars and Stainless Steel Dowel Bars

General Information
Solicitation Number: 1176
Status: End Solicitation Phase
Date Posted: Oct 25, 2007
Last Updated: Nov 04, 2014
Solicitation Expires: Sep 30, 2008
Partners: IL, KS, OH, WI
Lead Organization: Ohio Department of Transportation
Financial Summary
Suggested Contribution:
Commitment Start Year: 2008
Commitment End Year: 2012
100% SP&R Approval: Pending Approval
Commitments Required: $54,000.00
Commitments Received: $54,000.00
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Jeffrey Syar
jeffrey.syar@dot.ohio.gov
Commitments by Organizations
Agency Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address
Illinois Department of Transportation 2009 $10,800.00 Mark Gawedzinski Megan Swanson 217-782-3547 Megan.Swanson@illinois.gov
Kansas Department of Transportation 2009 $10,800.00 Andrew Gisi Rodney Montney 785-291-3844 rodney@ksdot.org
Ohio Department of Transportation 2009 $21,600.00 Roger Green Jill Martindale 6146448173 jacquelin.martindale@dot.ohio.gov
Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2009 $10,800.00 Debra Bischoff Lori Richter 608-264-8435 lori.richter@dot.wi.gov

Background

The use of steel dowel bars to transfer forces across sawed or formed transverse joints from one concrete pavement slab to another while permitting expansion and contraction movements of the concrete has been a basic design practice in most U.S. state departments of transportation for many decades. A common problem is the corrosion of the steel dowels, especially in states which use salt for snow and ice control. Corrosion can lead to a reduction in the diameter of the dowel bar in the joint area to the point where the dowel bar will fail in shear when loaded, resulting in faulting of the pavement slab. The corrosion can also "lock" the dowel bar into the concrete, preventing movement of the concrete during expansion and contraction, resulting in the transfer of stress to the concrete which cause the slab to crack. In the mid 1970's, state DOT began to require steel dowel bars be coated with epoxy or other materials to prevent corrosion. Epoxy coated dowels have become the standard for most states. Recently, alternative materials have been used to manufacture dowel bars. While the resistance of some alternative materials have been well documented in laboratory examinations, other performance characteristics affecting service life remain to be fully evaluated, particularly in representative field installations and over meaningful time periods. A program to evaluate two alternative dowel bar materials, stainless steel and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP), was initiated in 1998 by the Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC). Initial field installations of FRP and stainless steel dowel bars began in 1996 in conjunction with the FHWA High Performance Concrete Pavement (TE-30) project. Projects were completed in 4 States; Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin, over a period of 4 years. The last project was completed in 2000. The projects were being evaluated under the May 9, 1998 HITEC evaluation plan. A draft interim report detailing the construction and early performance of the test sections was submitted March, 2005. However, prior to completion of the evaluation, the contract was terminated with the now defunct HITEC. This research shall complete the work initiated by HITEC.

Objectives

The objectives of this study are: o To assess the constructability, placement verification, environmental qualities and performance capabilities of FRP dowels and stainless steel dowels to perform the load transfer and joint movement requirements in concrete pavement joints for the full service life of the pavement without detrimental corrosion or deterioration; and o To consider the comparative performance and service life costs of these alternative materials and epoxy coated mild steel for use in dowel bars.

Scope of Work

Task 1: Revise draft interim report to incorporation review comments and revise evaluation plan to reflect recommendations in the draft interim report. Update annotated literature review. Task 2: Host initial Technical Panel Meeting in Chicago. Discuss the current status of the evaluation and the approach to close out the project. Task 3: Execute the revised evaluation plan. Participating states with evaluation sites will be responsible for collecting data and cores identified in the revised evaluation plan. Task 4: Provide quarterly progress reports until the completion of the evaluation. Task 5: Prepare draft final report Task 6: Host final technical panel meeting in Chicago. Present results of evaluation and discuss draft final report. Task 7: Prepare final report

Comments

Ohio DOT along with a minimum of four other participating states are asked to contribute $10,800 in fiscal year 2008 to fund the research proposed in this pooled fund study.

Title Type Private
Evaluation of Fiber Reinforced Composite Dowel Bars and Stainless Steel Dowel Bars TPF Study Documentation N

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