MODIFIED REFLEX-PERCUSSIVE GROOVES FOR RUNWAYS

Runway surface treatments, such as grooving, can minimize the danger of aircraft hydroplaning by reducing the water buildup on the runway and by facilitating forced water escape from the tire-runway interface. Square saw-cut 1/4 in. grooves spaced between 1 and 2 1/2 in. have been widely used; the former provide a higher resistance to hydroplaning. Other surface treatments that have been reported as being effective in minimizing aircraft hydroplaning include porous friction overlay and reflex-percussive grooves; the latter are offered as a cost-effective alternative to square saw-cut grooves. As the title of this paper suggests, the modified reflex-percussive grooves are a derivative of reflex-percussive grooves in that the cutting heads for the latter were modified to produce smoother groove edges, which tend to improve water flow through the groove channels. Comparative dynamic tests showed that the braking action of an aircraft tire on modified reflex-percussive grooves is equivalent to that on square saw-cut grooves spaced between 1 1/4 and 2 in. Results also showed that hydroplaning was not initiated at speeds of up to 150 knots. The lower cost of the modified grooves makes them a viable cost-competitive method; however, realistic cost estimates and full savings potential can only be affirmed after application of these grooves in an operational environment.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1985/1048/1048-007.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MODIFIED+REFLEX-PERCUSSIVE+GROOVES+FOR+RUNWAYS&author=S.+Agrawal&author=H.+Daiutolo&publication_year=1985
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309039649
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Surface Properties-Vehicle Interaction. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Agrawal, Satish K
  • Daiutolo, Hector
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 43-49
• Monograph Title: Pavement management, data storage, surface properties, and weigh-in-motion
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1048
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft; Airport runways; Braking; Cost effectiveness; Hydroplaning; Methodology; Pavement grooving; Prevention; Tires
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00458240
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309039649
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1986 12:00AM