GPR investigation for the optimization of runway maintenance

The Authors present the results obtained during the experimental investigations carried out to support the design of rehabilitation works on runway 04-22 of the “Raffaello Sanzio” Airport of Falconara (Ancona), Italy. Due to the lack of detailed technical information on the existing pavement, it was considered essential to perform both intrusive (coring, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer) and non-intrusive (Heavy Falling Weight Deflectometer, Ground Penetrating Radar) field tests. Among the others, GPR data were especially useful. They were employed to build a complete 3D mapping of the runway, the results of which matched extremely well with those of other investigations and with the historical data available in the airport. Furthermore, GPR data allowed the Authors to carry out a detailed analysis of the structural behavior of the pavement according to a conventional back-calculation approach based on the definition of homogeneous sections and by following a more refined procedure based on single-point measurements. Along the runway it was possible to isolate zones characterized by the presence of different pavement types and by a corresponding variation of structural performance. As a consequence, the design of maintenance works was fine-tuned in order to remain within the allocated budget while still guaranteeing the required levels of expected performance