Application of the hinged dowel system for increasing the durability of concrete pavement joints

Concrete joint failure remains one of the main distress and maintenance issues in jointed concrete pavements. This article introduces a new load transfer system for placement in concrete pavement joints. The new dowel bar system was approved by the United States Patent Office as a new invention. Finite element modeling was used to quantify the benefits of using the new load transfer system in terms of reduced levels of deformation and stress in concrete slabs. The analysis for various loading conditions showed that the shear stress is reduced by 15%, which could result in a significant reduction in shear-induced cracking near the joints. The new invention has the capability of addressing curling and warping induced stresses and horizontal movement due to contraction and expansion. Furthermore, the new system prevents the dowel bars misalignment during new construction and expedites the process of retrofitting damaged joints.