Strain [Dowel Bar]

 

Steel Strain Gauge - SS

 

Description

A "SS" sensor measures the strain in steel dowel bars in PCC transverse joints due to dynamic vehicle loads. The Steel Strain (SS) sensors consist of four weldable resistance strain gauges mounted to the top, bottom, and both sides of a dowel bar. As a dowel bar flexes under load, strain levels can be measured and used to determine potential bearing stresses on the surrounding concrete.

 

Manufacturer

Micro-Measurements Group model LWK-06-W250B-350. Installed on the dowels by MnROAD staff.

 

Location and Quantity

SS sensors were originally mounted on the dowel bars prior to placement of the PCC.

 

There were originally 180 SS sensors (45 dowels x 4 gauges per dowel), located in 7 MnROAD PCC test cells.

 

Current Status

Performance of the SS sensors cannot be assessed, since they were connected and recorded a very limited number of times. None of the SS sensors remain functional at this time.

 

MnROAD Database Table

Limited data was collected during various load response testing sessions, and some has been processed and loaded into the MnROAD database. Data is located in database tables named: MNR.DYNAMIC_LOAD_TEST_VALUES and MNR.DYNAMIC_LOAD TEST DESCRIPTIONS.