Analysis of CC2 Rigid Pavement Test Data From the

FAA's National Airport Pavement Test Facility

David R. Brill, Ph.D.

FAA Airport Technology R&D Branch, ATO-P (AJP-6310)
William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City, NJ, USA
ICAO/ALACPA/FAA/ACI-LAC Seminar on Airfield Pavement Design
Bogot, Colombia
September 12, 2005
September 12, 2005

FAA Airport Technology R&D

Program
Effort

conducted at the William J. Hughes

Technical Center, Atlantic City, NJ, USA.
Sponsor: FAA Office of Airport Safety and
Standards, Washington, DC.
Provide support for development of FAA
pavement standards (Advisory Circulars).
http://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/
September 12, 2005

AAR-410

National Airport Pavement

Test Facility - Background
Commissioned

on April 12, 1999.

Joint venture of FAA and Boeing Co.
Primary Objectives:
Provide

additional traffic data for incorporation

in new FAA thickness design procedures.
Provide full-scale pavement response and
failure information for use in airplane landing
gear design and configuration studies.
Reexamine the CBR method of design for
flexible pavement ACN (6-wheel gear).
September 12, 2005

AAR-410

National Airport Pavement

Test Facility - Specifications

Test

pavement: 900 ft long by 60 ft wide.

Test vehicle: Up to 12 aircraft tires at wheel loads
up to 75,000 lbs.
Dynamic data acquisition (20 samples/second).
Static data acquisition (4 samples/hour).
September 12, 2005

AAR-410

Construction Cycles
A construction cycle is defined as the complete cycle of
planning, construction, trafficking, posttraffic testing, and
demolition, needed to obtain a set of usable data.

CC1: Initial construction, consisted of 6 flexible

and 3 rigid test items.
CC2: Rigid pavement reconstruction

Test

strip and free standing test slab

Three new rigid test items

CC3: Flexible pavement reconstruction.

Four

conventional flexible test items.

September 12, 2005

AAR-410

CC2 - Objectives of Test

Main

Objectives:

Compare

rigid pavement life and performance for

different support conditions.
Compare pavement life and performance for 4- and 6wheel gear traffic.
Obtain data on pavement performance as measured by
the Structural Condition Index (SCI) versus traffic
repetitions.
Other

objectives included comparing interior and

edge stresses under gear loads, and measuring
shrinkage and curling of the concrete slabs.

September 12, 2005

AAR-410

CC2 Test Item Layout

MRC

South Carriage
Trafficked Area

MRG

MRS

22.9 m (75 ft)

22.9 m (75 ft)

22.9 m (75 ft)

7.6 m (25 ft) Transition

Area (Typ.)

Direction of
Traffic

18.3 m (60 ft)

North Carriage
Trafficked Area

CENTERLINE

MRC: Medium-Strength / Rigid / Conventional (aggregate) foundation

MRG: Medium-Strength / Rigid / Slab placed directly on Grade
MRS: Medium-Strength / Rigid / Stabilized base (econocrete)

September 12, 2005

AAR-410

Detail Plan of PCC Test Item

TRANSITION

4.57 x 4.57 m (15 x 15 ft)

SLABS, TYP.

18.29 m (60 ft)

TRANSITION

SHOULDER

22.86 m (75 ft)

SHOULDER
September 12, 2005

AAR-410

Profile of CC2 Test Items

MRC

T5

MRG

30.5 cm (12 in)

Concrete

43.2 cm
(17 in)
PCC

30.5 cm (12 in)

Concrete

25.4 cm (10 in)

P-154 subbase

T6
43.2 cm
(17 in)
PCC

MRS
30.5 cm (12 in)
Concrete
15.2 cm (6 in)
P-306 econocrete
21.9 cm (8-5/8 in)
P-154 subbase

~1.2 m (4 ft) of Rebuilt Subgrade

CBR 7-8
total subgrade depth of 2.7 m (9 ft)
September 12, 2005

AAR-410

Structural Design Data for

CC2 Test Items
Test Item

MRC

MRG

MRS

PCC Surface

30.5 cm (12 in.)

PCC
(P-501)
25.4 cm (10 in.)
aggreg. subbase
(P-154)
none

30.5 cm (12 in.)

PCC
(P-501)
none

Clay (CH)
k=35.3 MPa/m
(130 pci)

Clay (CH)
k=38.0 MPa/m
(140 pci)

30.5 cm (12 in.)

PCC
(P-501)
15.2 cm (6 in.)
econocrete base
(P-306)
21.9 cm (8.6 in.)
aggregate subbase
(P-154)
Clay (CH)
k=38.0 MPa/m
(140 pci)

Subbase 1
Subbase 2
Subgrade

September 12, 2005

none

10

AAR-410

144.8 cm
(57 in.)

(a) 6-wheel gear.

September 12, 2005

144.8 cm
(57 in.)

137.2 cm
(54 in.)

144.8 cm
(57 in.)

137.2 cm
(54 in.)

Gear Load Dimensions for CC2

Traffic Tests

(b) 4-wheel gear.

11

AAR-410

Traffic Summary for CC2 Test Items

Gear Passes Completed
Test Item Type Apr-Jun 2004 Jul-Sep 2004

Oct-Dec 2004 Total

MRC-North

4-wheel 12675

12675

MRC-South

4-wheel 5405

5405

MRG-North 6-wheel 0

21186

9834

31020

MRG-South 4-wheel 0

21162

9834

30996

MRS-North

6-wheel 0

20262

20262

MRS-South

4-wheel 0

21162

9834

30996

September 12, 2005

12

AAR-410

Performance Monitoring
Visual

Distress Surveys.

ASTM

D 5340-93 and FAA AC 150/5380-6.

Daily up to 10,000 passes. Weekly after 10,000 passes.
Embedded

Sensors.

Responses

monitored for early indication of cracking.

Nondestructive

Tests.

HWD

every 15 wanders (990 passes) up to 10,000

passes. Every 30 wanders after 10,000 passes.

Destructive
Cores
September 12, 2005

Testing.

to investigate origin of cracks.

13

AAR-410

148
18

1840

149
149
207 11
10
10
150
150

41
41
41
54

45
45

11

99
244
54

225

S25

70
223
224 86

10

S30

87151
151
178
15
139
139
139
151
53
15
53
178
88
208
53
15
178
15
88
21 86
53
138
138
5
21
138
21
107
21
21
21
35
5 5
136
35
233
5
84
137
137
84
69 206
22
206
8484
69
22
6969
2222
22
152
152
2234
106
34
106
69
3483
83
105
83
83
205
105
105
205
105
68
20423
85104
104
104
44
23
104
2323 85
85
82
221
153
4
82 182
4
43
43
582
43
234 134
5 8282 154
154
134
134
179 67
4
184
153
67
179
28
28
66
8181
183
180
28 14
28
14 4 4 52
4
4
52
14
51
185
66 80
135
135
28
80
52
181
181
39
220
39
33
103
39
39
14 51
39
33
33
51
103
39
79
14
14
14
79
132
14
203
203

S24

S23

87
87

S35

500'

9
6
96
6
66

140
140
12
12
12

MRG

S40

109
109

222

160
160
160
159
161
55
161
108
108
55 161
55
27
1616
141

163
194

27

164
56

S29

S34

16289

After
31,020 Passes

165
166
71

89
56
89

168
1616
167

7/13/2004
7/14/2004
7/19/2004
7/20/2004
7/27/2004
Spall
8/2/2004
8/9/2004
8/11/2004
8/16/2004
8/18/2004
8/20/2004
8/24/2004
8/26/2004
8/27/2004
8/31/2004
9/7/2004
9/9/2004
9/14/2004
9/21/2004
9/28/2004
10/5/2004
10/13/2004
10/29/2004
11/9/2004
11/16/2004
11/23/2004
12/02/2004
12/07/2004
12/14/2004

S39

169
90
169

71 9090

235
58
58
230
58
236
72
13
72
13
196
237
110
72
57 110 72196
195
195
112
57
57
13
13
13
57
229
48
113
112
228
112 113 48
143
143 112

Construction Cycle 2:
Trafficking Test Item MRG
133
133
77
202
50
102
186
186
131
50
32
218
77
50
3
3
77
217
10
18738 10
100
100 32
187

S22

130

30
30

30

S21

96

September 12, 2005

22 2
2

38
38
65
215
64
64
64
64
216

S28

S33

238

91

78 219

76

S27

S32

201

76
155
126
155
31
20
156
189
98
155
189
20 20
157
20 31
201
98
98 31
1
214
192 129
129
124
124 125
63
1
S26
212
128 199 63 213
63
63
127127
42
190
42
42
19842
190
19
158
158
19
191
193
42
19
97
97

3737
170
170

94
115

94

176
175
11
115
174
37
172 26 26
26
60
197
241
26

61 61118
11 118
61
95
117
11
231
231
117
117
95
177

28
29
12
120

14

17
17

94

173

7474 74
74
170
243
171
171
75
75
239
239
240
116
171
11
116
240
75 116

S31

S38

48

93

144

73
73

99
99
99

59
59 113
46 59
36 46
47 227
113
46 47
36 46
47
47
36
36
226
20936
210
92 20946
47
210

73
11
73

78

111
111
57
57

92
92
114211
211 144
144
60

114

188
65188
65

142

142

24
24
24

242
242
121
12
121
121 49
4924
49

11

122

145
145

26
25
146

232
6262

122
24
24

S37

8
8
8
123

S36

147

425'

AAR-410

148
18

149
207

40

41

45

11

244

500'

140
9

54
150

225

S25

224

10

87

70
223

109

53

136

108

107

222

35

233

81

180 52
14
181

186

50

S22

215

S33

114

64

65

20
129
63

214

128 199

213

192
124 125
212

127

S32

96

September 12, 2005

19

158

60

197
145

61
231
177

241

193

242
121

232
62

122
49

15

146
95

24

29

97

117

26
25

118

11

S31
120

S37

172

240

157

42
191

171

176

174

75 116

S26

17

175

74

239

201

198

190

93

37
173

170

201

98
1

156

226
210

94
115

73

243
99

76
31

126

30

211 144

78

S27

216
155
189

209

92
219

227

47

91

S38
48

59

46

36

238

13

229
113

228

143

188

S21

57

S28

230

72
196

110
112

195

100

38

235

236

111

77

187
130

71

237

202

10

7/13/2004
7/14/2004
7/19/2004
7/20/2004
7/27/2004
Spall
8/2/2004
8/9/2004
8/11/2004
8/16/2004
8/18/2004
8/20/2004
8/24/2004
8/26/2004
8/27/2004
8/31/2004
9/7/2004
9/9/2004
9/14/2004
9/21/2004
9/28/2004
10/5/2004
10/13/2004
10/29/2004
11/9/2004
11/16/2004
11/23/2004
12/02/2004
12/07/2004
12/14/2004

S39

169

58
142

102

217

89

162

203

32

168
167
90

103

218

S29

165
166

S34

220
39

133
131

56

183

79

16
27

164

185 135

66 80
51

141

194

206
69
22
152
34
106
105
83
205
68
204
104
44
23
85
221
4
182
43
234
82 154
134
184
153
67
179

33
132

163

137

84

S23

55

138

21

88

After
31,020 Passes

161

178

208

MRG

S40

160

159

139
86

28

12

S35

151

15

S24

S30

S36

147
123

425'

AAR-410

63
CS
47 CS 62
63
CS 62
11 95 CS
110
73 47 19 47 1962 68 74
73
68
48
96
19
19
19
68
59 5959
48
97
10 59
67
66 67
S50
111
1414
14
111
58
60
140
3
14
75
60
4
75
CS
41
10 34
41
6
6
72
6
13
94
10
6
10
71
C1
10
92 92 34
C4
42 70
70
939333
71
33
13
91
33
7
S49
99
C433 57
33 57
90
8
9

137
37
3636

S45

S44

56
56

43
99

98

43 43
43
C5
50
50

112
112
112

61
C5
C5

61
133
61 100
45
100

600'
20

45

44
44
5151

52

26
26 26

8585
113
113

21
21
101

152

118
119
119
142
115

86 86

116
11
10

115

120
122
120

C2

After
30,996 Passes

154

153
116
116

S54

MRS

S60
114
114

85

15
102 15
116
102
102 15

10
117
117
117

101
101

7/13/2004
7/14/2004
7/16/2004
7/19/2004
7/20/2004
CS
CS Corner Spall
7/21/2004
Core
8/2/2004
8/5/2004
8/9/2004
8/11/2004
8/12/2004
8/16/2004
8/18/2004
8/20/2004
8/24/2004
8/26/2004
8/27/2004
8/31/2004
9/7/2004
9/9/2004
9/14/2004
9/21/2004
9/28/2004
10/5/2004
10/13/2004
10/29/2004
11/9/2004
11/16/2004
11/23/2004
12/02/2004
12/07/2004
12/14/2004

S59

27
155
15 2727
15

Construction Cycle 2:
Trafficking Test Item MRS
2

S43

S55

98

65

55
12
12
C3
C3
12

55

C3
12

81

17
17

12
12

31

32
32
32

84
84

55
55
55

69

121
69
69

83
83

76144

77
76

77

S48

46

120

120
121

145

S53

143

141

35

35

31 82
82
31
31

135

28
28
2828

S58

156

134
35
35
35

136

108

107

79
79

16

11

16

123

89
38

18

S42

46
46

121
122
80

124

39
39
39

S47

S52

130

151

126

106
3

104
104

125
125

64

40
40

CS

S57

22

148

103
103

78

105

CS

150

127
127
127

8787

CS

87

54

S41

30

25
25

128
128

S46

129
129

S51
53

23

September 12, 2005

49

53
138
138

24

16

146

29
22

147

S56

131

137
137
88
88 139
88
137
139
139
149

132

525'

AAR-410

1
37

10

S45

68

66

98

110

S50

S55

58

CS

51

52
112

60

After
30,996 Passes

26
113

75

41
34

6
42

70

93
9

C4

13

56

S49

S54

142

57

65

155
115
117

12

121

17

144

S48
55

76

77

145

S53
35

82

31

28

S58

156

143

141

C3

81

102

84
83

S43

27

15

C2

69

7/13/2004
7/14/2004
7/16/2004
7/19/2004
7/20/2004
CS
CS Corner Spall
7/21/2004
Core
8/2/2004
8/5/2004
8/9/2004
8/11/2004
8/12/2004
8/16/2004
8/18/2004
8/20/2004
8/24/2004
8/26/2004
8/27/2004
8/31/2004
9/7/2004
9/9/2004
9/14/2004
9/21/2004
9/28/2004
10/5/2004
10/13/2004
10/29/2004
11/9/2004
11/16/2004
11/23/2004
12/02/2004
12/07/2004
12/14/2004

S59

86

120

32
2

101
119

90

21

152
118

71

91

33

154

153
116

C1

92

S44

72

94

10

MRS

S60
114

85

111
3

140

600'
20

45

44

50

14

133
100

43 C5

48

97

67

61

99

74
96

47
19
59

36

63

62

CS

95
73

134

136

135

108
107

79

46

122
80

11

16

123

89

124

130

38

18

39

S42

S47

S52

151

126

106
3

104
64

125

40

CS

S57

22

148

103

78

105

CS

150

127

87

CS

54

S41

30

128

25

129

S46

S51

S56
146

53
23

49

138

131

137

88

24
149

September 12, 2005

29

147

17

139

132

525'

AAR-410

Final Distress Maps

MRC
September 12, 2005

MRG
18

MRS
AAR-410

Structural Condition Index (SCI)

Rollings

(1988).
SCI is structural component of rigid PCI.
Only

load related distress types are considered (e.g.,

L/T/D cracks, corner breaks, shattered slab).
SCI is always equal to or higher than PCI for the same
pavement feature.
Joint and corner spalling was excluded from the SCI
computation for CC2 test items.
SCI

definition is not the same as Structural PCI as

adopted by the U.S. Navy (MicroPAVER).

September 12, 2005

19

AAR-410

Micro PAVER Computations

September 12, 2005

20

Record structural
distresses based on
visual surveys.
Treat each test item
(north side or south
side) as a sample
unit.
Follow ASTM
procedures for
counting distresses
and assigning
severity levels.

AAR-410

SCI Versus Coverage Analysis

Plot

SCI as a function of applied coverages.

P/C

ratio is computed from wander pattern.

All slabs in sample unit versus inside traffic lane only.

Obtain linear regression of SCI versus log(C).

Intercept

with SCI=100 line yields CO (cov. to 1st crack).

Intercept with SCI=0 line yields CF (cov. to full failure).
New rigid design concerned with coverages to SCI=80.
Lower portions of failure curve (below SCI = 80) are
important for overlay designs.
September 12, 2005

21

AAR-410

Plot of SCI vs. Log of Coverages for

all CC2 Test Items With Trendlines
100
MRG-North

80
MRG-South
MRS-South

SCI

60
MRC-South

40

MRC-North
MRS-North

20
CC2 Test Strip

0
100

1000

10000

Coverages
MRC-North

MRC-South

MRS-North

MRG-North

MRG-South

CC2 Test Strip

September 12, 2005

22

MRS-South

AAR-410

Regression Data for Analysis

of SCI Versus Coverages
Regression Constants*
Test Item
MRC-N
MRC-S
MRG-N
MRG-S
MRS-N
MRS-S
Test Strip
*

A
-167.43
-148.36
-247.03
-246.96
-101.71
-231.66
-90.33

B
572.15
506.04
941.57
935.12
374.94
871.57
296.37

R2
0.821
0.827
0.964
0.965
0.896
0.961
0.904

Coverages to
Initial Crack,
CO
661
546
2551
2408
505
2141
149

Coverages to
Full Failure,
CF
2613
2576
6480
6117
4855
5784
1910

P/C
3.80
4.71
4.71
4.71
4.71
4.71
4.13

SCI A log C B

September 12, 2005

23

AAR-410

Distress Modes in CC2 Test

Items
Measured uplift at all corners was kept minimal (0.38
mm / 15 mils or less).
Top-down cracks were not eliminated in either the
outside or inside lanes.

Inside

lanes: Received traffic from both wheels. Both topdown and bottom-up fatigue cracks were observed.
Outside lanes: Received either no traffic (MRC) or traffic
from only one wheel of the dual gear. Top-down cracks
were observed.

Top-down cracks appeared first on outside slabs, even

though those slabs received relatively less traffic.

September 12, 2005

24

AAR-410

Fatigue Cracks Observed in

CC2 Test Items

Core Sample
Showing a Bottomup Crack in Test
Item MRS-South
September 12, 2005

25

AAR-410

Fatigue Cracks Observed in

CC2 Test Items

Top-down crack
observed in outside lane
of test item MRC-North
(Slab S-2)

September 12, 2005

26

AAR-410

SCI Evaluation
To

avoid distortion of the SCI-vs.-coverage

analysis due to the early appearance of top-down
cracks in the outside lanes, only those slabs
receiving traffic from both tires of the dual gear
(i.e., the 5 inside slabs) were included in the SCI
sample units.
For SCI evaluation, no distinction was made
between visible top-down and bottom-up cracks.
September 12, 2005

27

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Results: Stabilized and

Nonstabilized Test Items
Deterioration

of SCI is best represented by a

model that is linear in log of coverages, regardless
of whether a stabilized base is used.
In general, CC2 test results support the principle
that higher-quality subbases extend pavement life.
Additional

durability is reflected in the slope of SCIvs.-log(C) trendline. In general, stabilized base

structures exhibited the flattest slope, followed by
conventional, and (lastly) slab-on-grade structures.
Exception was MRS-S.
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SCI vs. Coverage Curves for Stabilized

Base Test Items

120
100

LEDFAA Failure Model Includes Stabilized Base

Compensation

SCI

80
60
40
20
0
1

10

100

1000

10000

100000

Coverages
MRS-North (6 wheel, P/C = 4.71)
Exist. Failure Model - 6 wheel (No Compensation)
Exist. Failure Model - 6 wheel (SB compensation)

MRS-South (4 wheel, P/C = 4.71)

Exist. Failure Model - 4 wheel (No Compensation)
Exist. Failure Model - 4 wheel (SB Compensation)

Log. (MRS-North (6 wheel, P/C = 4.71))

Log. (MRS-South (4 wheel, P/C = 4.71))

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Design Factor vs. Coverages

Design Factor (DF) = ratio of concrete flexural strength to

maximum calculated bending stress.
LEDFAA model based on Rollings (1988) regression:

DF = 0.5234 + 0.3920 log (CO) coverages to onset of cracking

DF = 0.2967 + 0.3881 log (CF) coverages to full failure (SCI 0)

Recompute design factors for all test items using FEDFAA

(3D-FEM) edge stress.
Evaluate parameters including 7 new NAPTF data points.
Preliminary analysis - design factors subject to change as
we continue to characterize the material properties.

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Conclusions

Rigid pavement full-scale traffic tests recently completed

at the FAA's National Airport Pavement Test Facility
provided pavement performance and failure data for three
new rigid pavement test items and a test strip.
The performance data were analyzed using the SCI
concept to obtain coverages to initiation of structural
cracking and to full structural failure.
The test results are currently being analyzed in conjunction
with previous full-scale tests and will be used to update the
failure model for rigid pavement and overlay design in
future FAA design software.

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Questions?

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