Concrete Airfield Pavement Distress Frequency: Review of 25 Years of Pavement Management Data

Abstract: Concrete is commonly utilized for airfield pavements due to its high durability and ability to withstand heavy aircraft loads, particularly for slow moving traffic or parked aircraft. However, like all pavement surfacing materials, it is susceptible to various distress and damage mechanisms during service. This paper presents findings from a summary review of 25 years of pavement management data for airfield pavements operated the U.S. Army. About 50 airfields in multiple climatic zones are represented. Periodic pavement condition index (PCI) inspections are performed off all these airfields as a component of operational pavement management. Results of the PCI surveys on concrete pavement portions of the airfields are condensed to look at relative frequency of occurrence for different concrete pavement distress types. Both load related and climate induced distress types are included. For climatic distress types, relative frequency is compared to the Koppen climate classification for that airfield location to determine if specific pavement distress mechanisms are more prevalent in particular climates. Joint sealant distress is by far the most frequently occurring concrete pavement distress mechanism. Frequently, joint sealant replacement is given low priority in pavement maintenance budgets due to the perceived low return on investment in terms of PCI improvement per dollar expended. However, the longer term impacts of deteriorated joint sealant due to intrusion of water into underlying pavement layers may be significant and show up later as increased maintenance costs for other distress mechanisms.