Slab Load-Transfer Dowel Schedule (ACI 302)

Round bond-broken dowels that make two panels deflect together under wheel loads while still free to shrink and slide. One dowel every spacing (commonly 12 in o.c.) along the joint, inset from each edge: dowels per joint = floor((joint length x 12 - 2 x edge clearance) / spacing) + 1. A 40 ft joint at 12 in o.c. with 6 in edge clearance takes 40 dowels; five such joints need 200. Dowel diameter ~ slab thickness / 8 (about 3/4 in for a 6 in slab), ~18 in long, ONE end greased so the joint can open -- but ACI 302.1R gives the actual size/length/spacing by thickness in a table, which governs. Dowels must be aligned parallel (a basket), or a locked joint cracks the slab. A takeoff/detailing aid; the structural drawings, ACI 302/360, and the engineer of record govern.

dowels_per_joint = floor((joint_length_ft x 12 - 2 x edge_clearance_in) / dowel_spacing_in) + 1; total_dowels = dowels_per_joint x num_joints; dowel_diameter_in ~ slab_thickness_in / 8 (advisory).

Slab-on-grade load-transfer dowel detailing (ACI 302.1R Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction; ACI 360R design of slabs-on-ground), by name; the dowel size/length/spacing table and the engineer of record govern.

The dowel count is public first-principles (one per spacing plus one); the ACI 302 dowel size, length, and spacing come from its detailing table and the structural drawings.

Estimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.

Field names used by the API: joint_length_ft, slab_thickness_in, dowel_spacing_in, edge_clearance_in, num_joints, dowels_per_joint, total_dowels, dowel_diameter_in

• Dowel count dowels per joint = floor((joint length x 12 - 2 x edge clearance)/spacing) + 1; total = per joint x number of jointsACI 302 detailing practice
• Size advisory diameter ~ slab thickness/8, ~18 in long, one end greased; ACI 302.1R gives the size/length/spacing table (governs); align parallel (basket) or the joint locks and cracksACI 302.1R / ACI 360R