Field Assessment of Runway Pavement Surface Texture for Baghdad International Airport

Abstract

One of the major serviceability issues which reflects the suitability of the airport runway for serving international flights is the surface texture of concrete pavement. The concrete surface of the runway 33R-15L of Baghdad international airport is badly covered with large spots of aeroplanes tyre rubber. The international flight companies had claimed that the rough surface of the runway concrete pavement caused damage and deterioration to their aeroplane’s tyres. The companies asked for an assessment to evaluate the pavement surface condition and suggestion for remedy. On the other hand, the accumulation of tyre rubber could impart the safety of take-off and landing at various environment conditions especially at rainy season. The lack of stringent routine maintenance process for rubber removal causes an accumulation of thick rubber film on the concrete pavement surface. This work was undertaken to verify the roughness issue of runway pavement surface. The surface macro and micro textures was measured on 200 selected locations on the runway surface using sand patch method and British pendulum tester, the coefficient of friction was then determined at three cruising speeds of (100, 200, and 300) km/hour using mathematical models. Recommendations concerning the remedy of the problem was presented.