Severity effects of dual-tandem and dual-tridem repeated heavier aircraft gear loading on pavement rutting performance

Abstract

In this paper, the rutting behaviour of flexible test pavements subjected to multiple-wheel heavy aircraft gear loading at the National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) are characterized. Two series of traffic tests were conducted. During the first series, a Boeing 777 (B777) aircraft gear and a Boeing 747 (B747) gear were trafficked on two low-strength subgrade and two medium-strength subgrade flexible test sections until the test sections were deemed failed. The second series of traffic tests involved repeated loading of six-wheel aircraft gear (the same as B777 gear) and four-wheel gear on low-strength subgrade test sections with variable granular subbase thicknesses. The results showed that the mean rut depths (RD) accumulated under B777 loading and B747 loading were similar. For a similar number of load repetitions, low-strength subgrade test sections with reduced subbase thicknesses yielded larger RD. The NAPTF failure criteria did not yield consistent RD.

Keywords:

• NAPTF
• Rutting
• New generation aircraft
• Boeing 777
• Boeing 747
• Power model

Acknowledgements

This paper was prepared from a study conducted in the Center of Excellence (COE) for Airport Technology. Funding for the COE is provided in part by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The COE is maintained at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who works in partnership with Northwestern University and the FAA. Ms Patricia Watts is the FAA Program Manager for Air Transportation COE and Dr Satish Agrawal is the Manager of the FAA Airport Technology R&D Branch. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the authors who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented within. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views and policies of the FAA. This paper does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Special thanks to Dr Navneet Garg of SRA International Inc.; Dr David Brill and Dr Gordon Hayhoe of FAA Airport Technology Branch for their help.

Notes

^¶Email: [email protected].

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marshall R. Thompson

¶ ¶Email: [email protected].