Design Methodology for Load Transfer at Joints in Industrial Concrete Slabs and Pavements

The ASCP forum on Industrial Pavements provided valuable information on design, detailing, materials and construction issues related to industrial pavements. It also highlighted several differing opinions and challenges to existing practices.

This presentation by Bruce Ireland covers:

• Minimum requirements for selecting load transfer dowels in industrial pavement design are discussed
• Four types of pavement are considered; jointed unreinforced, jointed reinforced, steel fibre reinforced, post tensioned.
• Recognised guides T48 (Australia) TR 34, TR 66 (UK) are used for thickness design but may have shortcomings regarding load transfer.
• Load transfer may be controlling factor in determining thickness.
• Eight factors for the basis of design are presented
• Ineffectiveness of some load transfer mechanisms are presented, round dowels, keyways, aggregate interlock
• Dowel design parameters are presented
• Anticipated loading; critical for designer to seek out wheel and axle loads for materials handling equipment expected to be used by owner.
• The use of load (safety) factors such as in Austroads Guide, and load repetition factors, are recommended for both static and vehicular loads
• Supplementary reinforcement in concrete surrounding dowels is discussed.
• Three worked examples are provided; light industrial facility, industrial pavement with wide joints, container handling facility.