High Performance Asphalt for Airfield Pavement

Abstract

Due to the expected increase in air traffic movements around the world and its impact on the environment, the requirement to build more sustainable and low maintenance airfield infrastructures has become very important. One solution consists in using high performance asphalt materials in order to provide a better sustainable whole life cost solution for these pavements. Performances of binder play a key role in the performances of the asphalt pavement as the properties of both are linked. Using Polymer Modified Bitumen Asphalt materials for runway and taxiway represents an alternative solution to traditional Marshall Asphalt (MA). This type of products for wearing course and binder can improve considerably the airfield pavement performances regarding the Rutting resistance, thermal susceptibility or even Fuel resistance. Due to new generation of aircraft more and more aggressive, use of rut resistance asphalt base course is also mandatory. Asphalt Concrete manufactured with Hard Grade bitumen like “High Modulus Asphalt” with improved mechanical characteristics can lead to longer service life, by preserving resources and bringing also cost savings as maintenance is reduced. This type of Asphalt Concrete showed on major airport projects his potential as a viable alternative to the traditional airfield pavement materials for base course such as Crushed Rocks or Dense Bitumen Macadam.