Analysis of CC2 Rigid Pavement Test Data From the FAA’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility

Abstract

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted full-scale traffic tests on new rigid pavement test items at the National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF). Construction Cycle 2 (CC2) consisted of three independent rigid test pavements on mediumstrength subgrade as well as a smaller test strip constructed on low-strength subgrade. Trafficking of the three CC2 test items began in April 2004 and was completed in December 2004. Tests were conducted using four- and six-wheel simulated aircraft gear loads and were designed to compare three different support systems: conventional (aggregate) subbase, stabilized (econocrete) subbase, and slab-on-grade. This series of tests yielded significant data on the performance of rigid pavements constructed to current airport standards. This paper summarizes the trafficking data obtained from CC2 tests and presents an analysis of the relation between gear coverages and pavement performance, making use of the structural condition index (SCI) concept. The performance of the test items was compared to the rigid
pavement deterioration model used in the FAA’s LEDFAA design procedure. Preliminary design factors for all tests were evaluated using a three-dimensional finite element response model as implemented in the FAA’s beta design computer program (FEDFAA). The results of these full-scale tests, supplemented by available data from historical full-scale tests conducted by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be incorporated into the updated performance/ failure models in the FAA’s new design procedures for rigid pavements planned for 2006.