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Evaluation of an Alternative Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement System Using Natural Flax Fiber-Reinforced Concrete and GFRP Dowels
Department: Civil & Environmental
ResourceLengthWidthThickness
Paper000
Specimen Elements
Pocatello
Unknown to Unknown
Saugat Dotel
Idaho State University
Thesis
Yes
9/23/2026
digital
City: Pocatello
Master
The study investigates the potential of the combination of natural flax fiber reinforced concrete (NFRC) pavements and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) dowels as a sustainable and durable alternative to traditional Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP) systems. Flax fibers offer an environmentally friendly reinforcement for concrete, while GFRP dowels eliminate the corrosion concerns associated with steel load-transfer devices. Alkali-treated flax fibers were incorporated into concrete through 0.5% and 1% partial replacement of cement and fine aggregates. FRC-A2 mix, partial cement replacement by 1% flax fiber, exhibited the optimum overall performance by maintaining a compressive strength of 5,500 psi and enhancing flexural strength as compared to conventional concrete. The experimentally determined concrete properties were used to establish pavement design parameters including slab thickness of 10.5 in. and dowel configurations comprising one conventional 1.25 in. steel dowel and three GFRP dowel diameters (1.0, 1.18, and 1.5 in.). The proposed pavement system was further evaluated through analytical bearings stress calculations, dowel pull-out testing, and largescale slab deflection testing. Increasing dowel diameter reduced stress concentration, improved pull-out resistance, and enhanced load transfer efficiency. The 1.5 in. GFRP dowel exhibited performance comparable to the conventional steel dowel, demonstrating its potential as corrosionresistant alternative. Similarly, the optimized NFRC mix exhibited structural behavior comparable to conventional concrete, supporting the feasibility of incorporating flax fibers into concrete pavement systems. Furthermore, the combined NFRC-GFRP system demonstrated successful integration and effective structural performance, establishing a foundation for the next generation of durable concrete pavements. Keywords: Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP), Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP), Natural Fiber Reinforced Concrete, Load Transfer Efficiency (LTE), Sustainable Pavements

Evaluation of an Alternative Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement System Using Natural Flax Fiber-Reinforced Concrete and GFRP Dowels

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