Thermal behavior and performance evaluation of epoxy-based polymer concretes containing silicone rubber for use as runway repair materials

This paper investigates the applicability of a polymer concrete as a repair material for runways by evaluating the differences in its thermal behaviors and mechanical properties with those of cement concrete substrate, used for runways. Basic material properties, such as Young’s modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion of an epoxy-based polymer concrete containing silicone rubber, and their variations as a function of rubber content and ambient environmental temperature were evaluated. A small-scale model for a runway repair system was fabricated, and temperature-induced strains were measured using fiber Bragg grating sensors. The results were compared with those from finite element analysis of the model to estimate the validity of the simulation technique. Finally, a real maintenance model was analyzed, and the temperature-induced stresses at the substrate/repair material interface, caused by exposure to solar radiation for seven days each during (summer and winter), were closely investigated.