Section 7: Reinforcing Steel
Reinforcing steel used in concrete pavement includes longitudinal and transverse steel in continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), dowel bars in concrete pavement contraction design (CPCD), and tie bars for both CRCP and CPCD. Longitudinal and transverse steel is designed to keep cracks tight so that water or foreign materials cannot get into or go through the concrete cracks. Dowel bars are used to provide load transfer at the transverse contraction joints. Tie bars are installed at the longitudinal construction joints and keep concrete slabs together and prevent lane separation from taking place. For the steel to perform these functions satisfactorily, steel has to possess certain engineering properties, which include the modulus of elasticity of 29 million psi and yield strength of 60 ksi. More specific requirements are stipulated in Item 440. The steel should meet the requirements as described in Items 360 and 440 and in the CRCP Design Standards CRCP (1)-03 and CRCP (2)-03.