Dowel basket with non-metallic dowel bars and method of making same

A dowel basket including a metal frame with a plurality of fiberglass dowel bars having weld members secured to the dowel bars and welded to the metal frame, wherein the weld members include weldable metal caps with at least one lug on opposed ends of each dowel bar welded to the metal frame, wherein each weldable metal cap includes a pair of radially extending lugs on opposed sides of the cap, and wherein each weldable metal cap includes a pair of radially extending lugs on opposed sides of the cap.

A method of making a dowel basket including a metal frame with a plurality of non-metallic dowel bars comprises the steps of securing weld members to opposed ends of each of the dowel bars and welding each of the dowel bars to the metal frame via the weld members, wherein the weld members include weldable metal through pins extending through through-holes provided on opposed ends of each dowel bar and welded to loop wires of the metal frame, wherein the dowel bars have a longitudinal axis and wherein the through-holes extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dowel bar and entirely through the dowel bar.