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In this paper, the wheel track areal distribution of a short takeoff and landing aircraft was tested by using the self-developed airport pavement wheel track test system. The transverse and longitudinal distribution regulations of the wheel track of single-aircraft takeoff, dual-aircraft takeoff and landing were statistically analyzed, and the coverage of each point on the pavement were obtained. The joint simulation of MATLAB and ABAQUS was utilised to realise the fast calculation of the stress state at each point of the pavement. The longitudinal load of the pavement calculated based on the six-degree-of-freedom aircraft taxiing model was substituted into the finite element model, and the allowable coverage at each point on the pavement was calculated combined with the fatigue equation of concrete. Furthermore, an airport pavement design method based on the cumulative damage areal distribution was proposed, which could provide damage characteristics at any point on the pavement. The case analysis shows that the thickness of pavement within 600 m at both ends of the pavement for Aircraft A can be designed as 22 cm, and that of the middle pavement can be designed as 19 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assembled aluminium honeycomb sandwich panels (AAHSP) can be used as urgent repair and construction materials for airport runways. To verify the feasibility of using this type of pavement structure, two soil test sections of different strengths were constructed and four kinds of honeycomb aluminium sandwich panels, each with different thicknesses and strengths, were laid on top of soil test sections. Then, a heavy vehicle simulator was used to perform load testing based on loading profiles associated with light and heavy aircraft. Fatigue characteristics were measured, including the overall vertical deformation (displacement) of the pavement, vertical displacement of each structural layer, relative rutting, and fatigue failure at positions between the interlocking edges and at corners of the panels. With the exception of one type of panel, all other panels meet low-sortie traffic requirements of light aircraft on single-layered or double-layered ground. Moreover, one panel was also shown to fully meet the requirements for landings and take-offs of heavy aircraft on the double-layered ground. The pavement structure demonstrated improved fatigue performance by incorporating high-stiffness aluminium honeycomb sandwich panels. Lack of friction between the soil test sections and pavement panels is the main reason large premature deformation occurred on the pavement panels of soil test sections; therefore, it is necessary to enhance the friction resistance of stabilised soil. Depressions on panels and height differences between panels can lead to rutting, which can threaten the safe operation of aircraft and cannot be ignored. Increasing the thickness of the honeycomb core was shown to reduce bending deformation of pavement panels but increased compression of the honeycomb core. Fatigue performance of panels under aircraft loads can be significantly improved by strengthening the panels around the interlocking positions, increasing the thickness of the honeycomb core structure, adding fillets to panel corners, and improving panel-honeycomb and panel-panel welding techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]