Soil Strength Criteria for Operation of Fighter Aircraft on Unsurfaced Airfields; Bare Base Support

摘要

The purpose of this study was to obtain necessary data to validate or modify, if necessary, existing soil strength criteria for the operation of high-performance jet fighter aircraft on unsurfaced airfields. Two specially prepared test sections were constructed with four test items in each section. Test section 1 consisted of two lean clay test items and two heavy clay test items. Test section 2 consisted of four items: clayey sand, lean clay, silt, and heavy clay. These test sections were trafficked with an F-4C-type loading, and the results were used to obtain criteria for operation of fighter-type aircraft on unsurfaced soils. Skid tests were also conducted on these test sections to simulate the effects of braking soils. Results of the traffic tests indicated that existing criteria are adequate for use in designing unsurfaced airfields for the rolling loads of fighter aircraft. (Author)