Use of Nondestructive Test Deflection Data for Predicting Airport Pavement Performance
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 6
Abstract
Surface deflections using nondestructive tests (NDTs) were measured prior to and throughout the traffic testing at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF). The first series of traffic tests involved repeated loading of six-wheel Boeing 777 and four-wheel Boeing 747 test gears on two different lanes until the pavements were deemed failed. The NAPTF structural failure criterion was defined as at least surface upheaval adjacent to the traffic lane. A predetermined wander sequence was applied. Two low-strength subgrade and two medium-strength subgrade flexible pavement test sections were tested. Transverse surface profiles were measured periodically to monitor the progression of permanent deformation in pavements. Deflection basin parameters derived from NDT surface deflections were related to pavement rutting performance. An airport pavement functional failure criterion, defined in terms of number of traffic load repetitions to reach specific rut depth levels, was used in characterizing the structural response-performance relations.
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Acknowledgments
This paper was prepared from a study conducted in the Center of Excellence for Airport Technology. Funding for the Center of Excellence is provided in part by the Federal Aviation Administration under Research Grant No. 95-C-001. The Center of Excellence is maintained at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who works in partnership with Northwestern University and the Federal Aviation Administration. Ms. Patricia Watts is the FAA Program Manager for Air Transportation Centers of Excellence, and Dr. Satish Agarwal is the Manager of the FAA Airport Technology R and D Branch. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the writers, 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. The writers gratefully acknowledge the assistance rendered by Dr. David Brill and Dr. Gordon Hayhoe of FAA, and Dr. Navneet Garg of SRA International Inc. in conducting this study.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 6 • June 2007
Pages: 389 - 395
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 4, 2006
Accepted: Jan 2, 2007
Published online: Jun 1, 2007
Published in print: Jun 2007
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