Evaluation of fatigue cracking performance of asphalt mixtures under heavy static and dynamic aircraft loads

• Asphalt mixes used as surface in airfield taxiways and aprons were analyzed.
• The mixes were compared based on their fatigue cracking performance.
• The BRIC and HMA PG82-22 mixes performed better than the FAA P-401.
• The WMA–RAP and HMA PG70-22 mixes performed similarly to the FAA P-401.

This laboratory and analytical study investigated the pavement’s mechanical responses in terms of strains at the top and bottom of the asphalt surface layer for a number of modified asphalt mixtures. The purpose was to identify their potential for use in airfield aprons and taxiways that are subjected to heavy, slow-moving aircraft loads. The effects of these loads on fatigue behavior were evaluated in ABAQUS™ using the material properties determined in the laboratory. The findings indicated that a number of mixtures, including modified mixtures and warm mix asphalt, experience strain levels comparable to the FAA standard P-401 asphalt mixture.