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.