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.

11 Oct 2022

A Review of Airfield Pavement Drainage Guidance

Abstract: Inadequate drainage conditions may lead to airfield pavement deterioration. A thorough review of existing pavement drainage guidance and literature was necessary to identify key drainage considerations such as surface drainage infrastructure, pavement drainage layer thickness, use of geotextiles, and performance in freeze–thaw climates. Existing airport drainage guidance is provided by the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Tri-Service Pavements Working Group (TSPWG). Pavement drainage guidance is buried within regulations for pavement de-sign and can, at times, be split awkwardly to accommodate pavement guidance that is split between rigid and flexible designs. Most airfield pavement guidance has been adapted from guidance for highway design. Most guidance is also strength based, with little to no attention paid to material erodibility (a potential cause of pavement deterioration). This review also found very little reference to repairing, rather than completely replacing, damaged subsurface drainage layers. Further research is needed to assess the use of geofabrics and moisture in freeze–thaw conditions on drainage layers and surface structures. With further research, the retrofit and repair of existing subpavement systems might become a more economical solution to drainage-caused pavement deterioration issues than complete reconstruction.