Dynamic Response Analysis of Airfield Epoxy Asphalt Pavement Under High Tire Inflation Pressure

Abstract:

The aircrafts of new generation, like Boeing 787 and Airbus 350/380, have tire inflation pressure up to 1.5 MPa, which increases the effects of aircrafts with heavy gross weights on pavement response. The epoxy asphalt pavement becomes an ideal choice due to its excellent mechanical properties. A 3D finite element model of airfield epoxy asphalt pavement under nonuniform moving aircraft tire loads was established by ABAQUS and it was validated with field measurements of accelerated pavement test. The effects of tirepavement contact stress distribution, tire inflation pressure, different temperature profiles and material characteristics were discussed with the finite element model. The results indicated that nonuniform distribution of tirepavement contact stress increased pavement strains; epoxy asphalt pavement was a better choice in terms of decreasing rutting and cracking under heavy aircraft loads; however, fatigue cracking of the bottom of epoxy asphalt layer and permanent deformation of the AC layer should be emphasized.

Key words:tire inflation pressure; nonuniform distribution; finite element; rutting; cracking