FROZEN SUBBASE: KEEP IT COOL, KEEP IT STRONG

In 1969, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (Alaska DOT) constructed the first insulated runway over permafrost in North America at the Kotzebue Airport. Extruded polystyrene insulation proved to be the most cost-effective, high performance product to solve the problem of permafrost degradation. Styrofoam (Trademark) brand plastic foam, a closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam, was chosen for its superior water resistance, long lasting R-value, and the high compressive strength needed under the runway. This article describes the installation and performance (expected and actual) of the Styrofoam.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03620506
• Corporate Authors:

  Cahners Publishing Company

  275 Washington Street
  Newton, MA  United States  02158-1630
• Publication Date: 1991-11

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 80
• Serial:
  • Highways and Heavy Construction
  • Volume: 134
  • Issue Number: 13
  • Publisher: Cahners Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 0362-0506

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airport runways; Building; Electric insulating materials; Facilities; Foams; Installation; Insulating materials; Performance; Permafrost; Polystyrene
• Geographic Terms: Alaska
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I33: Other Materials used in Pavement Layers; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00616524
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1991 12:00AM