Exploring the Challenge of Selecting, Specifying, and Verifying a Concrete Flexural Strength Value for Rigid Aircraft Pavement Thickness Design

Abstract

Rigid pavements form a significant portion of the aircraft pavement network, both in Australia and in the USA. The strength of the concrete used in rigid aircraft pavements is usually expressed as the 28 day flexural strength, and this has a substantial influence on the required thickness of the concrete slabs. The selection, specification, and verification testing of concrete strength are all interlinked, and this creates challenges for the airport pavement design and construction industry. Challenges include different definitions of characteristic strength used in different jurisdictions, the selection of an efficient but workable and low-risk concrete strength for pavement thickness design, the statistically based specification of concrete strength acceptance requirements, and the search for more efficient test methods for concrete acceptance testing during construction. This paper explores these challenges and outlines potential improvements for the benefit of the aircraft pavement industry.