A study of the structural behavior of rigid pavement jointed slabs and the effect of the different parameters such as soil support, slab thickness and the number and diameter of dowel bars for jointed slabs on their behavior is considered one of the complex subjects which does not have satisfactory solution yet.

In the past some empirical and semi-empirical expressions were used for design purpose. At present, the analysis using the finite element method makes an assumption for the dowel bars; that the dowels transmit shear force only between the connected slabs. Thus there is shortcomings in studying the real behaviour of the jointed slabs and the efficiency of the dowel bars in transmitting the loads.

In the present study, the finite element method is used for the analysis considering the slab to be divided into plate elements resting on winkler foundation. Each element has six degrees of freedom at each node and the dowel was considered as a three dimensional beam element continuous and embedded in the slabs.

A finite-element programme was developed for studying the structural behaviour of jointed concrete pavement slabs under the effect of vertical and horizontal loads. The computer programme deals with the cases of partial contact between the slabs and the soil by iterative technique. The presented method is based on the classical theory of thin plates on Winkler foundation.

The slabs considered in this research were square of twelve feet length, some of them were joined by dowel bars in transverse direction and the others were isolated (separated). The structural behaviour of rigid slabs under the effect of some parameters such as : Modulus of subgrade reaction (k),  thickness of slab (H),  dowel bars diameter (D) and number of dowel bars (N). Were investigated and better understanding of structural behaviour was reached. This study presents also some important recommendations for rigid pavement design purposes