LOAD TRANSFER OF DOWEL BARS AND STARLUGS

This report describes test procedures and findings of a study investigating the relative ability of dowel bars and Starlugs to transfer load across concrete pavement joints. Concrete slabs containing load transfer devices were subjected to 1.75 million load repetitions. Transverse spacing of load transfer devices for equivalent performance was determined based on modification of an existing design method. Test results indicated that load transfer device looseness increased with number of applied loads and with increased joint width. Looseness was shown to be a direct cause of decreased load transfer efficiency. Starlugs lost about 25 percent of initial load transfer efficiency after repetitive loading, whereas dowel bars lost less than 9 percent. Recommendations were made for load transfer device spacing. (FHWA)