ANALYSIS OF PERMANENT DEFORMATIONS OF FLEXIBLE AIRPORT PAVEMENTS

This study was conducted to investigate the deformation characteristics of component materials in a flexible pavement system subject to moving aircraft loadings, and to attempt to develop a prediction model to estimate permanent deformation. A literature survey was first conducted on the deformation characteristics of pavement component materials and the computational techniques to predict the amount of deformation. Series of laboratory repeated load tests measuring permanent strain were performed on subgrade soil and untreated granular materials. The results were used as input to a layered elastic computer program to determine the accumulated permanent deformation that occurred in each layer of the pavement. It was concluded that it is not possible to predict the permanent deformation that occurs in a pavement using the layered elastic computer program; thus, it was recommended that efforts be made to study the basic deformation characteristics of asphaltic concrete and untreated granular soils in a pavement system and later initiate a development program for prediction models when the information becomes available. The permanent deformation occurring in the subgrade soil of many pavements was computed using the linear layered elastic computer program and laboratory repeated load test data. Results of the analysis indicate that the current concept of the control of subgrade rutting in flexible pavements by the limitation of elastic strain is not strictly correct. When subgrade strain is limited subgrade rutting may not be limited and may not be controlled.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This report was also published as Federal Aviation Administration Report-FAA-RD-77-6. This report may be helpful to those interested in the design of pavements for cargo terminals.
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station

  3909 Halls Ferry Road
  Vicksburg, MS  United States  39180-6199
• Authors:
  • Chou, Y T
• Publication Date: 1977-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 116 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerated tests; Aircraft; Airport runways; Asphalt concrete; Asphalt pavements; Base course (Pavements); Building materials; Computer programs; Defects; Deformation; Engineering soils; Flexible pavements; Forecasting; Geotechnical engineering; Live loads; Loads; Materials selection; Mathematical models; Pavement design; Pavement distress; Pavement layers; Pavements; Repeated loads; Ruts (Pavements); Strain (Mechanics); Subgrade (Pavements); Subgrade materials; Testing
• Uncontrolled Terms: Loading; Models; Pavement deformation; Rut
• Old TRIS Terms: Materials evaluation; Strains
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Geotechnology; Highways; Marine Transportation; Materials; Pavements; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00172440
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: Tech. Rpt. S-77-8 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT FA73WAI-377
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM