The paper reports a comparative analysis of experimental methodologies used for evaluating the bearing capacity of airfield pavements. The study was done on the runway of Voghera Airport (near Pavia, Italy), during the rehabilitation works carried out in order to ratify its classification as a national "3rd level airport". The characterisation of the pavement bearing capacity was developed using different methods: laboratory tests, in-situ plate-bearing tests, Heavy Falling Weight Deflectometer (HWD) and Portable Falling Weight Deflectometer (PFWD). Some empirical correlations were found among bearing capacity parameters from different devices: there was a good affinity between the PFWD Elastic Modulus and the Moduli from the 30 cm plate-bearing test. In particular, the potential of the PFWD was investigated for its extensive utilisation in road and airfield construction, for a faster evaluation of structural properties of pavement subgrade and foundation. A simultaneous characterisation of the pavement by means of Ground Penetrating Radar and laboratory tests has also permitted the PFWD limits to be correctly identified. As regards HWD, a refining of the calculation of the Elastic Modulus was suggested, proposing the contemporary quantification of the propagation speed of pressure waves (Rayleigh's waves). Finally, design methodologies of airfield pavements were compared to check the influence of the bearing capacity's parameterisation on the pavement structure. The results can be considered sufficiently reliable for the purpose of studying airfield infrastructures used by medium ESWL aircraft (i.e. ATR 42, Fokker 50, etc.).
展开▼
