Joint Stiffness Tests for Precast Concrete Pavements

This paper compares the load transfer efficiency between precast concrete pavement specimen and typical concrete pavement specimen by means of laboratory and field tests. An experimental method was developed to evaluate the load transfer efficiency of the dowel bars buried in the concrete pocket and grouted with cement mortar. The test results showed that the load transfer efficiency of the specimen for the dowel bars repaired with grout was equivalent to that of the control specimen. In addition, a series of FWD field tests were conducted on the precast pavement to evaluate the joint stiffness. The field test results revealed that the central deflection of the precast slab slightly increased but the load transfer efficiencies at the joints were almost the same as those in the typical concrete pavement slab.