Performance Analysis of the Joint Sealing Materials for the Cement Concrete Pavements in Civil Airports

Abstract

Cement concrete pavements in airfields need to be sealed with all kinds of sealants to prevent the ingress of water or incompressible materials into their joints. Airfield cement concrete pavements have unique in-service conditions, and the sealants in these environments are not only exposed to climatic effects and heavy traffic loads but also to jet fuel and fluids. By analyzing the causes of damage and selecting four types of typical joint sealing materials for cement concrete pavements in civil airports (e.g., silicone, polyurethane, polysulfide, and polythiourethane), the basic physical properties, adhesion, and resistance of these materials are tested. By combining the experimental results with the relevant technical specifications and standards at home and abroad, these materials are divided into high elastic modulus and low elastic modulus based on 23℃ tensile modulus. The surface drying time, cone penetration, elastic recovery rate, tensile modulus, low temperature tensile elongation, tensile bond, fuel immersion characteristics, resistance to heat ageing, and flame resistant properties of these materials are used as performance indices and provide a technical reference for the construction of airport cement concrete pavements.