Análise de desempenho estrutural diferencial em trechos de uma pista de pouso e decolagem

Abstract

The landing and takeoff runways play a crucial role in the safety of air operations, making it essential to be conducted field assessments to understand their functional and structural conditions. Structural analyses examining the distribution of loads imposed by aircraft along different segments of these runways can help optimizing maintenance and rehabilitation resources, ensuring aircraft stability and operational safety. In this context, the objective of this study is to evaluate whether the application of different loads results in differential structural performance in different sections of a runway. Loads of 80 kN and 280 kN were applied by Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) and Heavy Weight Deflectometer (HWD) equipment on axes coinciding with the wheel path of medium and large aircraft along the pavement. By acquiring elastic deformations (deflections), the maximum deflection in each third of the studied runway was compared. Using back-analysis of deflectometric basin, with the assistance of BAKFAA software v.3.4.2, the resiliente modulus (RM) of each pavement layer was obtained, also comparing them in each third. Hypothesis tests, such as the Wilcoxon test, were conducted to enhance the reliability of the analyses. The evaluation of the collected data on the studied runway revealed that the measurement location influences on the structural assessment and that the third farthest from the predominant runway head in operations presents a superior structural condition due to its lower demand compared to the third one. The first two thirds showed higher maximum deflections due to a worse structural condition resulting from greater structural demand compared to the third. The divergence in the RM values of each pavement layer in each third demonstrated that they have distinct structural performance based on their structural conditions. Thus, there is evidence of differential structural performance that can result in unequal wear and deterioration in different areas of the landing and takeoff runway. By identifying these areas, specific corrective measures can be adopted for each section, avoiding high costs in the application of maintenance and rehabilitation strategies.