Statistical Analysis of InService Evolution of an Airport Asphalt Surfacing

Significant testing was performed on cores recovered from the trafficked and un-trafficked portions of a typical Australian airport runway surface approximately two years after paving. The relative density, aggregate orientation, resilient modulus, wheel tracking and interface shear resistance were measured and statistically compared. Interface shear resistance included strength, modulus and work/energy measurements. With the exception of the interface’s shear modulus, traffic was found to have a statistically significant impact on all parameters compared. Aircraft traffic triggered a substantial change in the asphalt’s structure. This evolution of the asphalt structure resulted in a measurable improvement in the surface layer’s resilient modulus and interface shear strength. Being typical of airport asphalt used throughout Australia, the measured effects of traffic are expected to be representative of all Australian airport asphalts. Further investigation is needed to determine the rate of evolution of asphalt structure as a function of traffic frequency