Using EPDM rubber joiners for minimizing tripping hazard due to slab misalignment of concrete footpaths

This paper presents the use of EPDM rubber joiners for minimizing tripping hazard due to slab misalignment of concrete footpath panels. EPDM rubber joiners are made from ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer and installed at the concrete pour. A full scale experiment on the joined panels has been conducted at RMIT University. The behaviour of a concrete footpath with EPDM rubber joiners has been investigated under different loading regimes, simulating displacements encountered in concrete footpaths in use. Australian Standard AS3727 (1993): Guide to Residential Pavement is used to determine the appropriate level of loading on the concrete footpath.