Airfields
Airfield pavements are intended primarily for airplane traffic in stationary, taxiing and takeoff/landing modes. HMA is a durable, high-strength pavement materials that is entirely appropriate for airfields. In fact, over 90 percent of the paved airfields in the U.S. are paved with HMA.
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Figures
1 and 2: Paving Hilo Airport.
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Assumed Traffic
Airplanes. A methodical and reasonably accurate estimation
of the type and number of airplanes is essential in determining
the proper pavement structural design. As with vehicular
roads, heavy loads (e.g., jet liners, cargo planes) will
control the
design.
Design Considerations
Airfield pavement design is dominated
by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has its
own pavement specifications
and design considerations. The FAA has an Excel spreadsheet
program to guide through design calculations
at: http://www1.faa.gov/arp/engineering/software.cfm.
Department of Defense (DOD) airfields are often specified
using Army Corps of Engineers specifications.
Construction Considerations
Airfield pavement construction can be markedly different
than vehicular roadway construction. Although these
differences are too numerous to list here it should be
noted that
FAA compaction
requirements are typically more stringent than State
DOT, city or county requirements. This is because
HMA paving
by the FAA
is generally intended for airport pavements, which
experience less traffic and have different operating requirements
(e.g. up to 60,000 lb. wheel loads, grooving and
rubber removal)
(Rapol, 2001). Generally the FAA believes its aircraft
pavements need 1 to 1.5 percent more initial density
than vehicular
pavements to meet their functional requirements (Rapol,
2001).
- FAA. (1999). AC 150/5370-10A: Item P-401 Plant Mix Bituminous Pavements thru CHG 12. FAA. Washington, D.C. http://www1.faa.gov/arp/publications/acs/5370-10a_p401.pdf
- The Asphalt Institute. (1987). Thickness Design - Asphalt Pavements for Air Carrier Airports, Manual Series No. 11. The Asphalt Institute. Lexington, KY. (www.asphaltinstitute.org)
- The Asphalt Institute. (1987). Thickness Design - Asphalt Pavements for General Aviation, Information Series No. 154. The Asphalt Institute. Lexington, KY. (www.asphaltinstitute.org)
Recommended Minimum Pavement Thickness and Design (inches)
To be determined using an approved procedure.
