Nondestructive Evaluation of Civil Airport Pavements.
Abstract
The nondestructive test(NDT) is used to define the physical conditions of an existing pavement system without destroying it. The frequency sweep NDT was introduced to replace conventional plate bearing tests. A 16 kip vibrator operated by the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) has conducted such tests at 15 civil airports. The results from these tests confirmed the frequency sweep theory and the reliability of the data acquired under it. The NDT test procedures have now been standardized and the results can automatically be included in the functional pavement design and evaluation program. The computer program consists of three subsystems. The first subsystem relates aircraft response to pavement smoothness. The pavement structure's capacity to withstand repeated aircraft loadings is related to the user's requirements, the demand forecast and the need for maintenance. The second subsystems determines the pavement thickness and composition required to meet the tolerances defined in the first subsystem. The third subsystem evaluates the cost/benefit aspects of design alternatives. The end products of this program will provide the pavement designer a definite criteria in planning airport pavements. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA036384
Entities
People
- Nai C. Yang