ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Page Count: 17

Effect of Dynamic Aircraft Gear Loads on Asphalt Concrete Strain Responses

Gopalakrishnan, K
Post-doctoral Research Associate, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Thompson, MR
Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL

(Received 7 March 2006; accepted 10 July 2006)

Abstract

Asphalt strain gauges were installed in both the longitudinal and transverse directions at the Federal Aviation Administration's National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) to measure the load-induced Asphalt Concrete (AC) tensile strains during full-scale traffic testing with a dual-tridem Boeing 777 gear configuration and a dual-tandem Boeing 747 gear configuration. The results are presented for four flexible test sections; two sections with 127 mm of AC and two with 254 mm of AC. An axisymmetric finite element pavement analysis software was used to model the NAPTF flexible test sections and compute the AC strain responses. The measured AC strain magnitudes were significantly influenced by AC temperature variations. Dramatic increase in peak strain responses were observed as the NAPTF flexible test sections approached structural failure. There was a good agreement between the field-measured and computed strains during the early life of the test sections.

Keywords:
Asphalt Strain Gage (ASG), Asphalt Concrete (AC), NAPTF, flexible airfield pavement, finite element modeling, multiple-wheel heavy aircraft gear loading

Paper ID: JAI100530
DOI: 10.1520/JAI100530
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.