Spectrum parameters for runway roughness based on statistical and vibration analysis

ABSTRACT

Airport runway roughness can be characterised by power spectral density (PSD) and two spectrum parameters, namely, the unevenness index and waviness. In order to find suitable spectrum parameters for airport runway roughness, seven runway profiles in China were measured to expand the current database of runway profiles. The statistical distributions of the spectrum parameters for runway roughness then were calculated, and the effects of the spectrum parameters on aircraft vibrations were analysed. The results show that the mode of the unevenness index is 0.13, which is a little lower than that of an A-level road, and the mode of waviness is 2.2, which is higher than the waviness recommended in ISO road classification. Moreover, as the unevenness index and the waviness increase, the aircraft vibrations become more severe. The aircraft vibration responses can be represented as a function of waviness, unevenness index, and speed, with a high correlation. At a constant speed, the relationship between the threshold values of the unevenness index and waviness can be shown as a straight line in a log plot. Finally, taking 200 km/h as the representative speed, threshold curves of the spectrum parameters, which are based on ride comfort levels and statistical analysis are proposed for the the simulation of aircraft vibration.

KEYWORDS:

• Runway profile
• runway roughness
• power spectral density (PSD)
• spectrum parameters
• simulation of aircraft
• vibration responses

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number U1833123, U1933113) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant number 2018YFB1600200).