Effective load transfer across Portland cement concrete pavement joints significantly decreases pavement deterioration. Areas of concern with using dowel bars include high costs, due to the labor-intensive procedure of retrofitting, and corrosion associated with standard mild steel epoxy-coated dowels. This research addresses these problems by evaluating four dowel bar details tested in an accelerated manner. Retrofit testing was performed using mild-steel epoxy coated dowels and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) dowels. The details tested provide comparisons among dowel bar materials, depth of placement, number of dowels used, and dowel diameter. Verification testing of previously tested details is also presented.

This document serves as the Reference Manual for the 1 1/2 -day FHWA workshop on concrete pavement preservation. The purpose of the document is to provide the most up-to-date information available on the design, construction, and selection of cost-effective concrete pavement preservation strategies. It concentrates primarily on strategies and methods that are applicable at the project level, and not at the network level, where pavement management activities function and address such issues as prioritizing and budgeting. Detailed information is presented on seven specific concrete pavement preservation treatments: slab stabilization, partial-depth repairs, full-depth repairs, retrofitted edge drains, load transfer restoration, diamond grinding, and joint resealing. In addition, information is provided on pavement evaluation techniques and strategy selection procedures.