Pavement skid resistance properties for safe aircraft operations

Abstract

Airport pavement engineers are required to maintain pavement skid resistance at a satisfactory level to minimize the likelihood of runway excursions. Runway overruns and skidding along rapid exit taxiways are the two most frequently encountered forms of runway excursion accidents. Currently only empirical statistical models based on historical accident data are available to predict the risks of runway excursions. All such models fail to account for the impacts of pavement skid resistance properties. Mechanistic solutions of the tire-fluid-pavement interaction problem are now available, and the impacts of pavement skid resistance properties on runway excursion accidents can now be quantitatively evaluated. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of recent research developments on the topic. It highlights the Concept of Pavement Skid Resistance State which provides (i) a logical theoretical framework for mechanistic representation of tire-pavement skid resistance, and (ii) an approach for modeling of the physical process of aircraft skidding and hydroplaning. Next, runway excursion risk prediction models are presented for risk evaluation of aircraft hydroplaning, runway overruns, and rapid exit taxiway excursions. Also examined in detail mechanistically is the effectiveness of pavement grooving in reducing the risks of runway excursions. The review clearly confirms the capability of mechanistic approach in analyzing runway excursions for the purpose of enhancing safe aircraft operations on airport runways.