Joint Construction in Concrete Pavement

GORDON K. RA.Y, Manager, Higiiways and Municipal Bureau,

Portland Cement A s s o c i a t i o n

Research and design engineers have developed a v a s t

storehouse of information on performance of v a r i o u s
types of j o i n t s i n p o r t l a n d cement concrete pavements.
The performance of such j o i n t s depends t o a l a r g e de-
gree on the type and q^uaJLity of t h e i r c o n s t r u c t i o n .
Caxeless c o n s t r u c t i o n p r a c t i c e s or i n c o r r e c t methods
of c o n s t r u c t i o n r e s u l t i n g from a l a c k of knowledge of
the j o i n t f u n c t i o n r e s u l t s i n pavements with below
standard r i d i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and maintenance proh-
lems. C o r r e c t c o n s t r u c t i o n procedures f o r v a r i o u s
j o i n t types are o u t l i n e d and i l l u s t r a t e d . Installa-
t i o n of dowels, t i e b a r s and expansion j o i n t f i l l e r s
i s explained.

• DURING THE l a s t two decades, design engineers, r e s e a r c h engineers and

m a t e r i a l s engineers i n our highway departments have l e a r n e d much about the
performance of j o i n t s i n concrete pavements. Laboratory s t u d i e s , e x p e r i -
mental pavements and condition surveys of e x i s t i n g pavements have enabled
them to design and s p e c i f y simpler, b e t t e r j o i n t s f o r concrete. Construc-
t i o n engineers have not always attached s u f f i c i e n t importance t o the pre-
c i s i o n of j o i n t c o n s t r u c t i o n methods to assure t h a t they w i l l f u n c t i o n as
designed.
There are four general types of j o i n t s i n use today, each w i t h a d i f -
f e r e n t purpose. A l l w i l l perform properly i n pavement i f they are proper-
l y constructed. To i n s u r e proper c o n s t r u c t i o n of j o i n t s , the c o n s t r u c t i o n
engineer, the r e s i d e n t and the i n s p e c t o r should understand t h e i r f u n c t i o n .
I f they understand how a j o i n t should work and why the design engineer se-
l e c t e d a p a r t i c u l a r type of j o i n t f o r a p a r t i c u l a r l o c a t i o n , they w i l l do
a b e t t e r job of c o n s t r u c t i o n s u p e r v i s i o n . I f they i n t u r n e x p l a i n to the
c o n t r a c t o r ' s personnel how a p a r t i c u l a r j o i n t w i l l f u n c t i o n , i t i s more
apt t o be b u i l t as planned.
The four j o i n t types, t h e i r purpose and design w i l l be d i s c u s s e d .
Then each j o i n t type i s tak:en up and s a t i s f a c t o r y c o n s t r u c t i o n procedures
o u t l i n e d . I n some cases there may be s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t methods of con-
s t r u c t i o n which w i l l produce a s u i t a b l e j o i n t . Wherever p o s s i b l e more
than one acceptable method w i l l be d i s c u s s e d .

JOINT TYPES
A l l concrete pavement j o i n t s can be grouped i n t o one of the f o l l o w i n g
g e n e r a l types: l o n g i t u d i n a l , c o n t r a c t i o n , expansion, and c o n s t r u c t i o n .
Each has a d i f f e r e n t but s p e c i f i c f u n c t i o n i f the pavement, highway or
a i r f i e l d i s t o give the most s a t i s f a c t o r y performance under t r a f f i c . A l l
j o i n t s connect i n d i v i d u a l s l a b s t o form a pavement and a l l permit some
type of movement. Slab edges represent s t r u c t u r a l weaknesses i n the s l a b
and j o i n t s must be designed t o strengthen these edges and prevent d i f f e r -
e n t i a l v e r t i c E i l movement. For t h i s reason n e a r l y a l l j o i n t s are provided
w i t h some type of l o a d t r a n s f e r between s l a b s .

11
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L o n g i t u d i n a l center j o i n t s a r e j o i n t s i n the d i r e c t i o n of paving and

are provided i n a l l s t r e e t and highway pavement b u i l t i n l a n e s over ahout
15 f t wide. They are a l s o used i n some a i r f i e l d pavement hut may he omit-
t e d i n t h i c k e r pavements hy some engineers. These center j o i n t s a r e i n -
tended t o r e l i e v e the t r a n s v e r s e s t r e s s e s which develop from wheel loads
and s l a b c u r l i n g or warping due t o moisture and temperature d i f f e r e n t i a l s
i n the pavement and v a r i a b l e subgrade support r e s u l t i n g from s o i l s w e l l i n g
or s h r i n k i n g .
These center j o i n t s a r e not intended t o open and c l o s e . To prevent
such h o r i z o n t a l movement they are u s u a l l y provided w i t h deformed t l e b a r s
embedded i n both s l a b s across the j o i n t ( F i g . l ) . Load t r a n s f e r between
l a n e s i s u s u a l l y provided by the aggregate i n t e r l o c k which develops be-
low the s u r f a c e groove. Some s t a t e s have used a deformed metal p l a t e f o r
t h i s j o i n t t o provide a keyway or
tongue and groove f o r l o a d t r a n s -
f e r . Some engineers r e f e r t o these
Sawed or formed groove center j o i n t s as hinged j o i n t s . I n
or premolded strip
some s t a t e s using lane-at-a-time
paving, c o n s t r u c t i o n j o i n t s take
the p l a c e of these center j o i n t s .
Deformed tiebar Contraction j o i n t s a r e t r a n s -
verse j o i n t s used t o r e l i e v e l o n g i -
t u d i n a l s t r e s s e s due t o c o n t r a c t i o n
F i g u r e 1. L o n g i t u d i n a l center j o i n t . as t h e concrete cools and l o s e s
moisture. Contraction j o i n t s a l s o
r e l i e v e l o n g i t u d i n a l s t r e s s e s due t o loads and c u r l i n g or warping and con-
t r o l the l o c a t i o n of t r a n s v e r s e c r a c k i n g i f properly spaced. Some engi-
neers r e f e r t o these as c r a c k e r j o i n t s , plane of weakness j o i n t s , or dummy
grooves. They a l l r e l i e v e c o n t r a c t i o n s t r e s s e s i n the concrete. Since
c o n t r a c t i o n j o i n t s g e n e r a l l y open somewhat as the s l a b cools and hardens,
some space develops a t each j o i n t f o r l a t e r pavement expansion. I f a l l
f o r e i g n m a t e r i a l i s kept out of these openings, the c o n t r a c t i o n j o i n t s
a l s o serve as expansion j o i n t s , making r e g u l a r l y spaced expansion j o i n t s
unnecessary.
Load t r a n s f e r t o strengthen t r a n s v e r s e s l a b edges and prevent d i f f e r -
e n t i a l movement under t r a f f i c i s provided by means of aggregate I n t e r l o c k
or by means of dowels or other mechanical l o a d - t r a n s f e r devices ( F i g . 2 ) .
The need f o r dowels I s determined
by the design engineer and i s based
upon j o i n t spacing, t r a f f i c , sub-
/-Sowed or formed groove
grade support and other f a c t o r s . ^ ^or premolded strip
No t l e b a r s a r e used, s i n c e T/g min.
they would prevent pavement con-
t r a c t i o n and f r e e l o n g i t u d i n a l
"^Lood transfer
movement a t these j o i n t s . I f (If specified)
dowels a r e provided f o r l o a d t r a n s -
f e r , they must be coated w i t h a
bond breaker t o permit f r e e h o r i - F i g u r e 2. Contraction j o i n t .
z o n t a l movement i n the pavement.
Some engineers c a r r y d i s t r i b u t e d s t e e l or deformed t l e b a r s through c e r -
t a i n t r a n s v e r s e j o i n t s and discontinue i t a t o t h e r s . T h i s r e s t r i c t s long-
i t u d i n a l c o n t r a c t i o n a t these s o - c a l l e d warping j o i n t s and causes l a r g e r
movement a t the other j o i n t s where dowels are normally provided.
 13

ExpaJision j o i n t s are u s u a l l y t r a n s v e r s e j o i n t s used to r e l i e v e ex-

pansion s t r e s s e s i n the concrete by providing room f o r expansion. An ex-
pansion j o i n t i s f i l l e d v i t h a nonextruding, compressiTDle m a t e r i a l . The
f i l l e r must have s u f f i c i e n t strength p a r t i a l l y to r e s i s t h o r i z o n t a l s l a b
movement but to permit such movement before crushing or b u c k l i n g s t r e s s e s
developed i n the concrete.
Engineers have found t h a t c l o s e l y spaced c o n t r a c t i o n j o i n t s provide
adequate space f o r expansion under normal conditions and, t h e r e f o r e , reg-
u l a r l y spaced expansion j o i n t s are no longer used i n most pavement. They
are s t i l l used, however, adjacent to most bridges and other f i x e d s t r u c -
t u r e s and a t c e r t a i n i n t e r s e c t i o n s . They may a l s o be used i n the l o n g i -
t u d i n a l d i r e c t i o n i n c e r t a i n wide pavement areas such as a i r f i e l d s to
p r o t e c t hangars and drainage s t r u c t u r e s from expansion s t r e s s e s i n the
transverse direction.
I n these j o i n t s , the expansion
f i l l e r prevents aggregate i n t e r - -Formed groove
lock from s e r v i n g as l o a d t r a n s f e r
so dowels or other l o a d t r a n s f e r
devices must be provided between o- \"m\n.Vlty2
s l a b s ( F i g . 3)» These dowels must
be f r e e t o s l i p i n the concrete t o
permit h o r i z o n t a l movement i n the Load transfer 7^ °; Expansion cap^
j o i n t . A r e c e s s or socket must be
provided a t one end of the dowel -J L
equal to the t h i c k n e s s of the f i l - " ^ E d g e thickening
l e r i f the j o i n t i s t o be able to —^ I—W (if specified)
f u n c t i o n properly. I n some cases
where dowels are not used as l o a d F i g u r e 3. Expansion j o i n t .
t r a n s f e r devices a t expansion
j o i n t s , the s l a b edges adjacent to the f i l l e r are thickened a t t h i s l o -
c a t i o n . While t h i s design may provide the e x t r a s t r e n g t h u s u a l l y f u r n i s h -
ed by dowels, i t does not prevent d i f f e r e n t i a l v e r t i c a l movement a t the
joint.
Construction j o i n t s are t r a n s v e r s e header j o i n t s put i n a t the end
of each day's run or l o n g i t u d i n a l j o i n t s between l a n e s of m u l t i p l e lane
pavement. The purpose of such j o i n t s i s to d i v i d e l a r g e pavement areas
i n t o convenient s i z e s f o r paving. L o n g i t u d i n a l c o n s t r u c t i o n j o i n t s are
u s u a l l y provided w i t h deformed t i e b a r s or t i e b o l t s to prevent h o r i z o n t a l
movement and keyways or tongue and grooves b u i l t i n t o s l a b edges to pro-
v i d e l o a d t r a n s f e r between l a n e s .

A t r a n s v e r s e c o n s t r u c t i o n j o i n t may serve as a c o n t r a c t i o n or expan-

sion joint i f i t s location coin-
c i d e s with t h a t of a planned t r a n s -
v e r s e j o i n t . I f i t i s to be a con- Formed or sawed
t r a c t i o n j o i n t , a butt-type j o i n t groove
i s formed by the header or t r a n s -
v e r s e form and dowels are used f o r
l o a d t r a n s f e r a c r o s s the j o i n t . I f
the j o i n t i s t o be an expansion
j o i n t , a f i l l e r i s placed against Deformed tiebar
the temporary header. Transverse
c o n s t r u c t i o n j o i n t s which do not
occur a t r e g u l a r j o i n t l o c a t i o n s Figure k. Construction joint.
are g e n e r a l l y t i e d w i t h t i e b a r s t o p r e v e n t movement ( F i g . k). T h i s i s i m -
p e r a t i v e i n m u l t i p l e l a n e pavements. Keyways may be p r o v i d e d i n such
cases t o i n s u r e l o a d t r a n s f e r s i n c e t l e b a r s alone a r e n o t adequate f o r
t h i s purpose across b u t t J o i n t s . . ,, . .

CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURES
There a r e a number o f methods o f c o n s t r u c t i n g each j o i n t t y p e w h i c h .,
are s a t i s f a c t o r y i f p r o p e r a t t e n t i o n i s p a i d t o each d e t a i l o f c o n s t r u c -
tion. Some o f t h e more common a c c e p t a b l e methods o f j o i n t c o n s t r u c t i o n
are d i s c u s s e d . The method s e l e c t e d must r e s u l t i n a d u r a b l e , s m o o t h - r i d -
i n g j o i n t w h i c h w i l l f u n c t i o n as i n t e n d e d w i t h o u t s p a l l l n g , c r a c k i n g o r
d i f f e r e n t i a l v e r t i c a l movement. i j
L o n g i t u d i n a l c e n t e r j o i n t s a r e n e a r l y always some t y p e o f s u r f a c e
groove. These grooves reduce t h e pavement c r o s s - s e c t i o n and t h e r e s u l t -
i n g plane o f weakness i n t h e s l a b w i l l r e s u l t i n a c r a c k below t h e groove
as t r a n s v e r s e s t r e s s e s develop. The depth o f groove must be e q u a l t o a t ;
l e a s t one-fo\irth o f t h e slab thickness t o c o n t r o l l o n g i t u d i n a l cracking.
The b e s t method o f f o r m i n g these grooves i s b y sawing t h e hardened
c o n c r e t e ( F i g . 5 ) . T h i s may be done
any t i m e b e f o r e t h e pavement i s open-
ed t o t r a f f i c . Sawing may be done
wet o r d r y w i t h diamond o r a b r a s i v e
b l a d e s , depending on w h i c h method i s
more economical f o r t h e p a r t i c u l a r
aggregate. Usually the center j o i n t
can be f l u s h e d o u t , d r i e d and s e a l e d
i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r sawing, e l i m i n a t i n g
a second c l e a n i n g . S e l f - g u i d e d saws
are e x c e l l e n t f o r sawing c e n t e r j o i n t s
I f a premolded b i t u m i n o u s s t r i p
i s used t o f o r m t h e s u r f a c e groove,
i t must be o f t h e p r o p e r dimension
and must be v e r t i c a l and f l u s h w i t h
the surface t o prevent s p a l l l n g o f
the concrete. I f i t i s i n s t a l l e d
ahead o f t h e f i n i s h i n g machine and
l o n g i t u d i n a l f l o a t , proper alignment
F i g u r e 5. ' i s d i f f i c u l t t o maintain. I f i t i s
i n s t a l l e d b e h i n d t h e mechanical f i n -
i s h i n g equipment, t h e s u r f a c e over t h e j o i n t must be s t r a l g h t e d g e d t o r e -
move t h e bump c r e a t e d d u r i n g t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e groove b y a v i b r a t i n g
bar o r c u t t i n g wheel. | j
F u l l - d e p t h deformed m e t a l p l a t e s have l i m i t e d use t o d a y . They p r o -
v i d e e x c e l l e n t l o a d t r a n s f e r throiagh t h e keyway p r o v i d e d b y t h e p l a t e b u t
t h e y must be b u r i e d s l i g h t l y t o p e r m i t p r o p e r f i n i s h i n g . I f t h e p l a t e i s
t o o deep u n s i g h t l y s p a l l l n g and r a v e l i n g o f t h e j o i n t may r e s u l t . A
depth o f 1/8 I n . below t h e f i n i s h e d s u r f a c e s h o u l d be t h e maximim p e r -
mitted. ,| I •
T l e b a r s across t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l c e n t e r j o i n t may be s u p p o r t e d on
c h a i r s d r i v e n i n t o t h e subgrade o r may be i n s e r t e d i n t h e c o n c r e t e j u s t
b e h i n d t h e spreader. T h i s may be done b y hand u s i n g a simple i m p r o v i s e d :'
device o r a u t o m a t i c a l l y b y a wheel w h i c h i n s e r t s t h e b a r s a t t h e p r o p e r
 - • 15^
spacing as t h e spreader moves f o r w a r d . The t l e b a r s must be ungreased, o f
t h e p r o p e r dimensions and p l a c e d a t t h e p r o p e r i n t e r v a l s shown on t h e
p l a n s . A b s o l u t e accuracy as t o l e v e l and a l i g n m e n t i s n o t c r i t i c a l w i t h
tiebars. . • .

C o n t r a c t i o n j o i n t s are a l s o o f t h e s u r f a c e groove t y p e . Since these

t r a n s v e r s e grooves r e l i e v e l o n g i t u d i n a l c o n t r a c t i o n s t r e s s e s w h i c h develop
d u r i n g e a r l y s l a b h a r d e n i n g and c o o l i n g , w h i l e t h e c o n c r e t e i s r e l a t i v e l y
weak, t h e r e d u c t i o n i n c r o s s - s e c t i o n does n o t have t o be so g r e a t as i n
l o n g i t u d i n a l c e n t e r j o i n t s . Eixperlence has shown t h a t a depth o f groove
eq^ual t o o n e - s i x t h o f t h e s l a b t h i c k n e s s w i l l g e n e r a l l y c o n t r o l a l l t r a n s -
verse cracking.
The b e s t method o f f o r m i n g these c o n t r a c t i o n j o i n t grooves I s by
sawing t h e hardened c o n c r e t e ( F i g . 6 ) . Since c o n t r a c t i o n s t r e s s e s d e v e l -
op as soon as t h e c o n c r e t e hardens, these j o i n t s must be saved v e r y e a r l y .
The exact t i m e o f sawing depends upon t h e t y p e o f a g g r e g a t e , c u r i n g , meth-

F i g u r e 6. Figure 7.

Figure Figure 9.
16 •. •

od, cement f a c t o r and weather ( F i g . 7 ) - G e n e r a l l y a l l j o i n t s s h o u l d be

sawed as soon as p o s s i b l e w i t h o u t damage t o t h e s u r f a c e . A s l i g h t amount
of r a v e l i n g i s p e r m i s s i b l e and d e s i r a b l e s i n c e i t g i v e s t h e o p e r a t o r a
good gauge o f h i s t i m i n g ( F i g . 8 ) . I f t h e r e i s no r a v e l i n g a t a l l , t h e
c o n c r e t e i s t o o h a r d and cracks may develop ahead o f t h e saw. A l l j o i n t s
s h o u l d be sawed i n succession t o p r o v i d e t h e plane o f weakness a t t h e
t i m e o f maximum c o n t r a c t i o n and b e f o r e t h e s l a b g a i n s t o o much s t r e n g t h .
T h i s w i l l I n s u r e c r a c k i n g and u n i f o r m opening a t a l l j o i n t s . Sawed j o i n t s
s h o u l d be t h o r o u g h l y f l u s h e d o u t i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r sawing t o remove a l l
residue (Fig. 9)-

The l o c a t i o n f o r sawing t r a n s v e r s e j o i n t s may be marked by snapping

a s t r i n g l i n e on t h e concrete d u r i n g f i n a l f i n i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n s . The
choice o f saw blade t y p e and t h e d e c i s i o n t o saw wet o r d r y s h o u l d be
based on economy and w i l l depend on many l o c a l f a c t o r s . The w i d t h o f
cut s h o u l d be a d e c i s i o n f o r t h e d e s i g n engineer based on j o i n t spacing
and a n t i c i p a t e d j o i n t opening. I f a c r a c k s h o u l d develop a t t h e approx-
imate j o i n t l o c a t i o n , o r i f t h e s l a b cracks ahead o f t h e saw, sawing s h o u l d
be o m i t t e d a t t h a t j o i n t l o c a t i o n . The c r a c k w i l l f u n c t i o n as a c o n t r a c -
tion joint.
I n some areas where v e r y h a r d coarse aggregates a r e used, sawing
c o s t s may be p r o h i b i t i v e . I n these a r e a s , preformed i n s e r t s a r e f r e -
q u e n t l y s p e c i f i e d t o reduce sawing c o s t s . These i n s e r t s may be made o f
c o r r u g a t e d , p a r a f f i n - t r e a t e d paper o r premolded b i t u m i n o u s s t r i p s s i m i l a r
t o expansion j o i n t f i l l e r s . Boards o f cane f i b e r w i t h a l o w a s p h a l t con-
t e n t have been most s u c c e s s f u l t o d a t e . Those s t r i p s a r e i n s e r t e d i n a
groove formed b y v i b r a t i n g a T-bar i n t o t h e s u r f a c e b e h i n d t h e l a s t me-
c h a n i c a l f i n i s h i n g equipment ( F i g . 1 0 ) . The i n s e r t i s p l a c e d i n t h e
groove s l i g h t l y below t h e s u r f a c e and t h e n t h e s u r f a c e over t h e j o i n t
must be f i n i s h e d w i t h a s c r a p i n g s t r a i g h t e d g e . A c r a c k w i l l develop be-
low t h e i n s e r t s i n c e i t f u n c t i o n s as a s u r f a c e groove. A f i n e c r a c k w i l l
a l s o develop above t h e i n s e r t w h i c h serves as a guide f o r t h e saw oper-

F i g u r e 10. F i g u r e 11.
 17

a t o r . The sawing o u t o f t h e i n s e r t can be done d r y u s i n g an a b r a s i v e -

t y p e b l a d e s l i g h t l y w i d e r t h a n t h e i n s e r t t h i c k n e s s t o remove a.11 paper
f r o m t h e s i d e s o f t h e j o i n t . I f b i t u m i n o u s impregnated s t r i p s a r e used,
o n l y t h e t o p 1 t o 1-^ i n . need be removed f o r s e a l i n g . T h i s t y p e o f j o i n t
a c t s as p o s i t i v e c r a c k c o n t r o l and sawing can be d e l a y e d u n t i l a f t e r a l l
p a v i n g i s completed and t h e c o n t r a c t o r i s ready t o s e a l j o i n t s ( F i g . 1 1 ) .
One o r two highway departments use a premolded b i t i m i n o u s s t r i p w h i c h
i s l e f t i n p l a c e w i t h o u t any sawing o r s e a l i n g . T h i s s t r i p a l s o must be
p l a c e d i n a groove made b y v i b r a t i n g a T-bar i n t h e c o n c r e t e b e h i n d a l l
mechanical f i n i s h i n g . The s u r f a c e over t h e j o i n t must be c a r e f u l l y
s t r a i g h t e d g e d t o remove any bump a d j a c e n t t o t h e s t r i p s . These s t r i p s
must be f l u s h w i t h t h e s u r f a c e t o be s u c c e s s f u l . They must a l s o be v e r -
t i c a l and c o n t i n u o u s f r o m f o r m t o f o r m . I f t h e y a r e b u r l e d t o o deep, i f
t h e y a r e t i p p e d , o r i f gaps o r o f f s e t s e x i s t between s t r i p s , s p a l l i n g r e -
sults later.
Dummy grooves hand formed i n t h e p l a s t i c c o n c r e t e a r e no l o n g e r used
e x t e n s i v e l y . They a r e d i f f i c u l t t o b u i l d p r o p e r l y . Bimps, s p a l l i n g and
l a c k o f d u r a b i l i t y a r e a l l t o o common on hand-formed j o i n t s . I f t h e y a r e
s p e c i f i e d , t h e t e m p l a t e used t o m a i n t a i n t h e groove must be c l e a n and
w e l l o i l e d a f t e r each use. I t must be removed e a r l y enough t o p r e v e n t
damage t o t h e s l a b . Hand formed j o i n t s s h o u l d be edged w i t h a w i d e - f l a n g e
double edger and t h e s u r f a c e must be checked w i t h a l o n g s t r a i g h t e d g e t o
i n s u r e a smooth r i d i n g j o i n t ( F i g . 1 2 ) . Edging and hand f i n i s h i n g must
be h e l d t o a minimum t o p r e v e n t o v e r w o r k i n g .
Both t h e dummy groove and t h e imsawed, premolded s t r i p t y p e s o f con-
t r a c t i o n j o i n t s a r e more d i f f i c u l t t o b u i l d p r o p e r l y t h a n sawed j o i n t s
and s h o u l d o n l y be used when sawing i s n o t p e r m i t t e d . They r e q u i r e much
more a t t e n t i o n and i n s p e c t i o n t o i n s u r e a s u r f a c e w h i c h i s smooth r i d i n g
and f r e e f r o m s p a l l i n g o r o t h e r d e f e c t s . Overworking o f hand formed
j o i n t s f r e q u e n t l y r e s u l t s i n mortar concentrations which l a c k d u r a b i l i t y
and s t r e n g t h .
When dowels a r e s p e c i f i e d i n
c o n t r a c t i o n j o i n t s , t h e y a r e gen-
e r a l l y p l a c e d i n b a s k e t s o r assem-
b l i e s on t h e subgrade a t t h e j o i n t
l o c a t i o n p r i o r t o placement o f t h e
c o n c r e t e . The b a s k e t s must be se-
c u r e l y s t a k e d t o t h e subgrade t o
p r e v e n t displacement d u r i n g p a v i n g .
The basket must be r i g i d enough t o
m a i n t a i n p r o p e r dowel a l i g n m e n t and
l e v e l d u r i n g p a v i n g . Baskets o r
assemblies which a r e f o u n d t o be
Inadequate must be r e j e c t e d b y t h e
engineer.
Dowels must be o f t h e p r o p e r
dimensions and s p a c i n g and t h e y
must be u n i f o r m l y greased o r p a i n t -
ed as s p e c i f i e d t o p r e v e n t bond and
i n s u r e a f r e e - m o v i n g j o i n t . They
must a l s o be p a r a l l e l t o t h e cen-
t e r l i n e and s i i r f a c e o f t h e pave- F l g i r r e 12.
18

ment o r r e s t r a i n t t o s l a b movement w i l l develop. Proper a l i g n m e n t can

be checked a t each end w i t h a s p e c i a l l y p r e p a r e d t e m p l a t e . Proper l e v e l
s h o i i l d be checked f r e q u e n t l y , u s i n g a s p e c i a l l e v e l w i t h a d j u s t a b l e l e g s
w h i c h can be used on t h e i n d i v i d u a l dowels. I t I s f i r s t s e t on t h e f o r m
at t h e j o i n t l o c a t i o n t o a d j u s t t h e l e g s so t h a t t h e l e v e l bubble I s cen-
t e r e d . I t can t h e n be used on t h e dowels t o determine whether t h e y a r e
p a r a l l e l t o t h e s u r f a c e . T h i s d e v i c e s h o u l d be used b e f o r e c o n c r e t e I s
p l a c e d and o c c a s i o n a l l y a f t e r machine f i n i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n s t o d e t e m l n e
vrhether o r n o t t h e do^/el assembly does h o l d t h e dowels I n p r o p e r a l i g n -
ment .
To p r e v e n t \mnecessary dowel displacement^ some care must be t a k e n
I n p l a c i n g and s p r e a d i n g c o n c r e t e . The o p e r a t o r sho\ild n o t be p e r m i t t e d
t o dump c o n c r e t e d i r e c t l y on t h e dowels and workmen s h o u l d n o t step on
them d u r i n g p a v i n g o p e r a t i o n s .
Expansion j o i n t s r e q u i r e t h a t t h e expansion f i l l e r be I n s t a l l e d v e r -
tically. I t must be c o n t i n u o u s f r o m s l a b edge t o s l a b edge w i t h no gaps
or o f f s e t s between a d j a c e n t p i e c e s . To I n s u r e p r o p e r placement, t h e f i l -
l e r must be s t a k e d s e c u r e l y t o t h e subgrade. I t s h o u l d be shaped t o t h e
subgrade o r p l a c e d i n a s h a l l o w t r e n c h t o p r e v e n t any c o n c r e t e f r o m f l o w -
ing under t h e f i l l e r . Any c o n c r e t e w h i c h b r i d g e s t h e expansion gap w i l l
p r e v e n t f r e e movement o f t h e J o i n t . I f a m e t a l keyway i s a t t a c h e d t o t h e
s i d e forms, t h e f i l l e r must a l s o be shaped t o f i t t h i s f o r m .
Since most p l a n s c a l l f o r t h e expansion f i l l e r t o be recessed 3 A ^ °
1 i n . below t h e pavement s u r f a c e , some t y p e o f I n s t a l l a t i o n guide o r cap
I s n o r m a l l y used i n c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h i s may be a m e t a l channel which f i t s
over t h e f i l l e r o r a wooden s t r i p o f t h e same w i d t h n a i l e d t e m p o r a r i l y t o
the f i l l e r . I n any case, t h e cap i s u s u a l l y c l o s e t o t h e s u r f a c e so t h a t
i t can be f o u n d a f t e r t h e f i n a l machine f i n i s h i n g o p e r a t i o n . These i n s t a l -
l a t i o n caps must bo removed as soon as p o s s i b l e , w i t h o u t damaging t h e con-
c r e t e , a f t e r i t has s e t s u f f i c i e n t l y t o p r e v e n t slumping i n t o t h e groove
above t h e j o i n t f i l l e r . I|
The cap s h o u l d be s t r o n g enough
to maintain t h e f i l l e r i n a s t r a i g h t
l i n e and i t must be cleaned and o i l e d
a f t e r each use t o f a c i l i t a t e removal.
I t i s normally raised p a r t i a l l y t o
p e r m i t edging o f t h e c o n c r e t e on b o t h
s i d e s w i t h a wide f l a n g e d double
edger and t h e n c o m p l e t e l y removed.
The groove above t h e f i l l e r must be
c a r e f u l l y I n s p e c t e d t o see t h a t i t
i s as wide as t h e f i l l e r and t o i n -
sure t h a t t h e r e i s no c o n c r e t e b r i d g -
i n g above t h e f i l l e r . The groove
s h o i i l d be i n s p e c t e d a g a i n a f t e r s i d e
forms a r e removed t o see t h a t t h e r e
are no plxigs o f c o n c r e t e i n t h e ex-
p a n s i o n space. Such p l u g s cause
s p a l l s i n t h e s l a b when t h e j o i n t
attempts t o close.
The f i n a l o p e r a t i o n i n expan-
F l g u r e 13. sion j o i n t construction i s a careful
 19

surface check with a straightedge t o see t h a t no hump or depression has

been created during the edging operation. As i n c o n t r a c t i o n j o i n t con-
s t r u c t i o n , any smooth surface l e f t by the edging t o o l should be roughened
w i t h a broom or burlap drag t o match t h e r e s t of t h e s u r f a c e t e x t u r e
(Fig. 13).

Construction j o i n t s between lanes or a t the end of a day's run a l s o

r e q u i r e some a t t e n t i o n from t h e i n s p e c t o r i f they a r e t o f u n c t i o n proper-
l y , Keyways a r c formed i n the edge of the f i r s t lane by a t t a c h i n g a metal
keyway of proper dimensions t o the form a t the midpoint of the s l a b depth.
The keyway form should be o i l e d p r i o r to paving t o f a c i l i t a t e removal. I f
t i e b a r s are used a c r o s s c o n s t r u c t i o n j o i n t s , they are u s u a l l y bent so t h a t
one-half p r o j e c t s i n t o the f i r s t lane to be paved and the other h a l f l i e s
between the keyway form and edge form. A f t e r form removaJ. the keyway i s
removed and the bent p o r t i o n of the t i e b a r i s s t r a i g h t e n e d f o r embedment
i n the second s l a b . T i c b o l t s are made s o t h a t the f i r s t h a l f i s attached
to the form by b o l t s . Frequently these b o l t s are a l s o used t o a t t a c h the
keyway t o t h e form. A f t e r forms have been removed, the second h a l f i s a t -
tached t o the p o r t i o n embedded i n the f i r s t l a n e .
S p e c i f i c a t i o n s u s u a l l y c a l l f o r s l a b edge v i b r a t i o n t o i n s u r e ade-
quate c o n s o l i d a t i o n along t h e keyway, thus c r e a t i n g a uniformly strong
tongue and groove t o provide proper load t r a n s f e r . Both edges of a con-
s t r u c t i o n j o i n t should be edged during f i n i s h i n g operations. Special
care must be taken during f i n i s h i n g of the second lane t o prevent any
overhang on the adjacent lane which would s p a l l o f f under t r a f f i c . To
prevent t h i s and provide a r e c e s s f o r s e a l i n g m a t e r i a l along the l o n g i -
t u d i n a l j o i n t , plans should c a l l f o r a d e f i n i t e groove a t t h i s l o c a t i o n .
Such a groove may be formed during the edging o f the second lane or by
sawing the groove along the j o i n t a f t e r the second lane has hardened.
I f dowels are s p e c i f i e d a c r o s s c o n s t r u c t i o n j o i n t s , they a r e normal-
l y i n s t a l l e d by d r i l l i n g holes of proper dimension i n the forms a t the
s p e c i f i e d spacing. The dowels then p r o j e c t through the form, h a l f i n t o
the concrete and the other h a l f outside the form. They should be support-
ed t o i n s u r e proper alignment by welding supporting b r a c k e t s on t h e out-
side o f the form. I n doweled l o n g i t u d i n a l c o n s t r u c t i o n j o i n t s , form r e -
moval may be f a c i l i t a t e d by g i v i n g each dowel a t w i s t before f i n a l hard-
ening of the concrete. The h a l f of the dowel embedded i n the f i r s t lane
must, of coiArse, bo p r o p e r l y coated with grease or p a i n t . A f t e r harden-
ing, the dowel can then be removed. I t i s r e p l a c e d a f t e r completion of
form removal and f i n e grading i n the adjacent l a n e . S e c t i o n a l dowels or
p l a s t i c dummies which can be attached t o t h e forms are now i n use on some
a i r f i e l d p r o j e c t s where doweled l o n g i t u d i n a l c o n s t r u c t i o n j o i n t s are spec-
ified.

SUMMARY
Construction of a l l j o i n t s i n concrete r e q u i r e s a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l s .
J o i n t s a r e an important p a r t o f t h e pavement and a r e designed t o c o n t r o l
c r a c k i n g and prevent e x c e s s i v e s t r e s s e s from developing. They must be
b u i l t properly i f they are t o do the job and not be a source of trouble
t o the motorist and the maintenance engineer. Proper j o i n t c o n s t r u c t i o n
should be demanded, g i v i n g the p u b l i c what i t pays f o r — s m o o t h - r i d i n g
durable j o i n t s f r e e from bmps, s p a l l s , and maintenance problems.