23 Sep 2025

Naval Expeditionary Runway Reconstruction Criteria: Evaluation of Full-Depth Reclamation for P-8 Aircraft Operations

Abstract: A structurally failed asphalt pavement section was reconstructed to investigate the full-depth reclamation (FDR) technique. The full-scale FDR pavement section consisted of six different test items containing different FDR material blends, a minimum asphalt layer thickness (i.e., 2 in. and 3 in.), and FDR-surface pavements (i.e., asphalt-surfaced and unpaved pavements). The FDR layers were stabilized with a combination of an asphalt emulsion and Portland cement. A heavy vehicle simulator was employed to simulate the loading conditions of the P-8 Poseidon aircraft. The performance of the full-scale pavement section before and after the FDR reconstruction was compared. The FDR technique was satisfactorily implemented to restore the structural capacity of a failed asphalt pavement. The pavements with FDR layers yielded at least two times more allowable passes than the conventional pavements. The FDR-surface pavement sections also demonstrated structural competency to support the expedient operation of heavy aircraft. The performance data generated from this project must be implemented to improve current practices in the design and evaluation of airfield asphalt pavements containing an FDR layer.

6 Mar 2025

Effect of Fighter Aircraft Traffic on Full-Depth Reclamation with Thin Surface Layers

Abstract: The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) constructed a full-scale test section to evaluate the effectiveness of different pavement surface technologies in sustaining fighter aircraft traffic. A deteriorated thin asphalt pavement was recycled utilizing full-depth reclamation (FDR) techniques with cement stabilization. Relatively thin surfacing solutions constructed with either conventional hot mix asphalt (HMA) or nontraditional surface materials were placed on the FDR layer and trafficked with a single-wheel F-15 load cart. Rutting behavior, instrumentation response, and nondestructive evaluation measurements were monitored during traffic. Experimental results showed that thin surface treatments and microsurfacing materials placed on FDR layers were capable of supporting an extremely limited number of F-15 operations, and the generation of foreign object debris (FOD) was a major concern. A 4 in. thick HMA layer was required to sustain a meaningful number of F-15 operations, that is, approximately 3,000, and a 2 in. thick HMA layer was required to sustain approximately 100 F-15 passes. An analysis using the Airfield Pavement Evaluation subroutine in PCASE suggested that existing stabilized equivalency factors were reasonable when the minimum asphalt layer thickness was specified. A reduced equivalency factor was observed when the asphalt layer thickness was less than the minimum thickness.

3 Mar 2025

Full-Depth Reclamation Equipment Evaluation and Expedient Pavement Reconstruction Process Development

Abstract: Full-depth reclamation (FDR) is a rehabilitation approach that can be readily applied to rapidly restore the structural capacity of heavily distressed or structurally deficient airfield asphalt pavements. This report presents a market survey of compact FDR construction equipment that could be deployed in contingency environments. Current equipment inventories from the US Air Force and Marine Corps were reviewed to identify gaps in terms of equipment for pavement reconstruction via the FDR technique. Additionally, a field demonstration was conducted to assess the effectiveness and productivity of FDR reclaimers on representative airfield asphalt pavements. A preliminary reconstruction process and a spreadsheet based calculator were developed to estimate construction times for the FDR technique. Examples of pavement reconstruction scenarios were generated to illustrate the FDR process as well as identify an approach with optimized construction times. The information in this report aims to assist in the implementation of reconstruction specifications for the FDR technique as applicable to expedient construction projects in contingency environments.