Effect of Replacing Resistance Classification Methods for Flexible Airport Pavements.

The current procedure for classifying the capacity of airport pavements, known as the Aircraft Classification Number/Pavement Classification Number (ACN/PCN) method, implemented about 40 years ago, has not followed the evolution of mechanistic-empirical design methods. In this sense, this paper aims to present a comparative analysis between the ACN/PCN Method and what will be implemented by the International Civil Aviation Organization by 2024, the Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR) method, to verify the impacts on the useful life and the admissibility of landing and take-off operations. Therefore, two flexible surface runways, located in Brazil, were evaluated with the help of COMFAA 3.0 and FAARFIELD 2.0 software. It was found that flexible pavements governed by the ACN/PCN method provide structures with reduced durability, both for the subgrade and the surface; on the other hand, when governed by the ACR/PCR Method, the subgrade has a useful life close to the project life and the surfaces have durability of more than 10 years, which may change the admissibility of landing and take-off operations. Furthermore, based on the results of these two pavements, it is suggested that the overload acceptance criteria for the ACR/PCR method be reviewed and adjusted according to the aircraft's landing gear configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]