Evaluation of airport subsurface materials

743934PDFResearch PaperCRREL-SR-97-13Frost susceptibilityFreeze thaw durabilityAirport runwaysGround freezingDrainageCold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)Barna, LynetteEaton, RobertJanoo, Vincent C.Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-MaterialsNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Pavement Management and PerformanceUS Transportation CollectionPavement structures located in regions with seasonal changes encounter regular cycles of freezing and thawing. Such environmental factors must be considered so that it can be certain that the pavement can accommodate continuous aircraft loading. 11 subsurface materials specified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were examined to determine their susceptibility to frost heave and thaw-weakening. All but two of the materials were found to be frost-susceptible under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers criterion that no more than 3% of fines be smaller than 0.02 mm (0.78 x 10(ecp-3)in.). The frost-susceptible materials were also evaluated using Asphalt Institute criteria, which also categorized them as frost-susceptible. The 11 materials were evaluated for susceptibility to thaw-weakening using the drainage model developed by Casagrande and Shannon, which focuses on the permeability of the drainage layer. The final recommendations are that, to reduce frost-susceptibility and thaw-weakening, the amount passing the no. 200 sieve should be installed below the pavement