Temperature Control Planning Tool for Multi-Lift Resurfacing of Airport Pavements

Abstract

Overnight repairs and resurfacing of runway or taxiway pavements are common in busy airports. The time window available for such repair and resurfacing works is often limited. A common problem encountered is to ensure that the newly compacted asphalt mixture has cooled down sufficiently before receiving aircraft loadings, so as to avoid premature deformation and failure of the asphalt mixture. In this regard, a simulation model that provides a prediction of the temperature–time variation trend of each compacted pavement lift in a multi-lift asphalt course laying would be a valuable planning tool for temperature control. Information on the temperature cooling trend of an asphalt layer helps to estimate the time duration available for effective compaction during laying, as well as the time lapse needed before the pavement is sufficiently stable to receive traffic. A finite element simulation model is presented in this study to predict the temperature–time variation trends of successive asphalt lifts in a multi-lift asphalt mixture laying operation. The numerical model was developed based on the theory of thermodynamics taking into account the heat transfer effects of solar radiation, convection, and conduction. The model was calibrated and validated using data from a field trial involving a two-lift and a three-lift laying of asphalt mixtures. Illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the applications of the simulation model as a temperature control planning tool for repair and resurfacing operations of airport pavements.