Structural performance assessment of demountable GFRP dowel bar

Al-Shrifi, Nabaa A; Al-Jelawy, Haider M.; Jashami, Hisham

doi:10.30772/qjes.2026.163854.1692

	Structural performance assessment of demountable GFRP dowel bar
Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences
Volume 19, Issue 3, July 2026, Pages 339-344 PDF (6.96 M)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.30772/qjes.2026.163854.1692
Authors
Nabaa A Al-Shrifi¹; Haider M. Al-Jelawy^* ¹; Hisham Jashami^* ²
¹Department of Roads and Transport Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al Diwaniyah 58001, Iraq.
²School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Oregon State Univ., 1491 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
Abstract
For jointed precast concrete pavements, this study suggests a novel demountable dowel bar system made of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP). The conventional steel dowel systems have limited reuse, corrosion, and concentrated stress. On the other hand, the suggested solution features a stainless steel sleeve that accommodates the GFRP bar, providing both removability and durability. Under monotonic loading circumstances, four slab specimens measuring 300 mm, 400 mm, and 800 mm in width were put to the test. The findings demonstrated that, in contrast to specimens with traditional steel dowels, those with GFRP dowels had distinct failure processes. The suggested system's potential application in modular pavement systems was indicated by its encouraging load-bearing capability and flexibility.
Highlights
The study developed a removable GFRP dowel system for precast concrete pavement. The proposed system eliminates steel corrosion and improves durability. GFRP dowels changed the failure mode from concrete crushing to dowel shear failure. The specimen with 200 mm spacing showed the largest load-carrying capacity. The system enables rapid slab replacement and easier maintenance.
Keywords
Demountable joints; GFRP dowels; Modular pavement systems; Precast concrete pavement; Stress concentration

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