Performance of Asphalt Concrete Airport Pavements during Thaw Weakening Periods:A Field Study

摘要

It is accepted that in the winter the load-carrying capacity of pavementsincreases dramatically because of freezing of the pavement structure. This is more striking in asphalt concrete pavements because of the stiffening of the asphalt at low temperatures. In the spring, the pavement structure below the asphalt layer thaws and can become saturated with water from the melting ice lenses, reducing the strength of the bases subbase and subgrades. In the spring of 1986, CRREL conducted Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) measurements at an airfield in Wisconsin, which had pavements that were primarily asphalt concrete, to determine the change in the load bearing strength of these pavement structures in a seasonal frost area during thaw weakening periods. In addition to FWD measurements, surface and subsurface pavement temperatures were measured at selected sites. This report gives a general description of the airfield and the pavement structure and a comprehensive analysis of the FWD measurements.