Analysis of diamond dowelled construction joints for rigid aircraft pavement load transfer

Abstract: The construction joints between paver runs are important to the design and construction of rigid aircraft pavements. These joints are required to account for paver width and are generally dowelled to ensure load transfer through vertical shear to adjacent slabs. Typically, smooth steel round dowels are used with specifications based on providing a sufficient spacing and diameter to mitigate bearing stresses, as well as sufficient embedment length to maximise load transfer. Alternate shapes to round dowels, such as diamond-shaped plate dowels, are regularly found in industrial slab-on-ground pavement applications, however, are generally absent from aircraft pavement practice. Compared to round dowels, which only allow for concrete movement in one direction, diamond-shaped dowels allow for both transverse and lateral movement when concrete expands and contracts. However, to be included in aircraft pavement practice, diamond-shaped dowels must be validated against aircraft loads to ensure they provide appropriate load transfer. This research used finite element methods to analyse the effectiveness of diamond-shaped plate dowels for rigid aircraft pavements. Through a parametric analysis, the significance of load regime, dowel detailing, dowel looseness and sublayer support on load transfer values used in contemporary thickness design methods was determined. Findings from this research can be used to innovate construction joint design for rigid aircraft pavements.