ABSTRACT
Pavement is a multi-layered structure. It is generally made up of compacted soil, bound or unbound granular material (stone aggregates), asphalt mix or cement concrete put as horizontal layers one above the other. Based on the functions, the joints in concrete pavements can be broadly divided into expansion joints and contraction joints. Expansion joints allow the slabs to expand or contract due to temperature variations. Dowel bars are typically placed in the expansion joints – one end of the dowel bar is kept free to allow expansion/contraction of the bar. Some basic relationships in mechanics of solids and the theory of elasticity are recapitulated in this chapter as a background material. Though exceptions are possible, for example, asphalt pavements in extreme cold climate may as well be provided with joints, continuously reinforced concrete pavements do not generally have joints, etc.
