Airfield Asphalt Pavement Technology Program

The AAPTP was established in 2004 through a cooperative agreement between the Federal Aviation Administration and Auburn University. Although closely related, the AAPTP operated independently from the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT). The AAPTP program was completed in May 2010.

Procedures Manual

AAPTP Procedures Manual
This document consists of four sections, with the respective objectives of (1) describing in general terms the Airfield Asphalt Pavement Technology Program (AAPTP) and its administration by Auburn University, (2) describing the sequence of events leading to research, (3) describing the administrative requirements to which agencies are contractually committed, and (4) setting forth the specific instructions for preparing and submitting proposals on AAPTP projects. 

Reports

04-01: Development of Guidelines for Rubblization - Final ReportAppendix A
04-02: PG Binder Grade Selection for Airfield Pavements - Final Report
04-03: Implementation of Superpave Mix Design for Airfield Pavements - Volume IVolume IIVolume III
04-04: Evaluation of Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) for Airfield Pavements - Final Report
04-05: Improved Performance of Longitudinal Joints on Asphalt Airfield Pavements - Final Report
04-06: Improved Porous Friction Course (PFC) on Asphalt Airfield Pavements - Volume I; Volume II
05-01: HMA Airport Construction Best Practices Manual - Final Report
05-02: Fuel Resistant Sealers and Binders for HMA Airfield Pavements - Final Report
05-03: Effect of De-icing Chemicals on HMA Airfield Pavements - Final Report
05-04: Techniques for Mitigation of Reflective Cracking - Technical GuideFinal Report
05-05: Evaluate the Need and Develop a Plan for National Certification of Airport HMA Technicians and Inspectors - Final Report
05-06: Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavements (RAP) in Airfields HMA Pavements - Final ReportAppendices
05-07: Techniques for Prevention and Remediation of Non Load-Related Distressed on HMA Airport Pavements Phase I - Final Report
06-01: A Laboratory and Field Investigation to Develop Test Procedures for Predicting Non-Load Associated Cracking of Airfield HMA Pavements - Final ReportPhase II Guide
06-02: Use of Recycled ASR PCC Materials in HMA Airfield Pavement - Final Report
06-03: Performance Based Specifications for HMA Airfield Pavements - Final Report
06-04: Evaluation of NDT Technologies to Assess Presence and Extent of Delamination of HMA Airfield Pavements (Project titled "Non-Destructive Testing to Identify Presence and Extent of Delamination of HMA Airfield Pavements") - Volume IVolume II
06-05: Guidelines for the Use of State DOT HMA Specifications for Airport Pavements - Final ReportAppendices
06-06: Life Cycle Cost Analysis for Airfield Pavements - Final Report
06-07: Assessment of FAA HMA Overlay Procedures - Volume IVolume II

Webinar Downloads

Webinar #1: HMA Airport Construction Best Practices Manual
This webinar provides technicians, inspectors and engineers who construct hot mix asphalt (HMA) airfield pavements with comprehensive guidance and recommendations for improved construction practices. Lack of good construction practices is a major contributor to poor performing HMA airfield pavements. Many of the construction issues are the same for highways and airfields, but there are issues that are unique for airfields. The webinar will discuss best practices for construction of HMA mixtures. Various methods of construction will be discussed and some guidance provided so that engineers can make the best decisions considering their specific projects. The webinar also discusses all aspects of controlling mixture quality during construction, including stockpiling, mix design, plant operations, trucking, placement, compaction, and quality-control/quality-assurance testing.

Webinar #2: Life Cycle Cost Analysis for Airfield Pavements
This webinar provides a comprehensive overview of life cycle cost analysis for airport pavements. It is applicable to both flexible and rigid airport pavements and addresses all aspects of life cycle cost analysis. The final product of the AAPTP study provides engineers and airport management with a fair, unbiased, defensible procedure to evaluate alternative pavement types during the design and/or bid process with all information required to successfully conduct a pavement life cycle cost analysis. The study provides information to meet FAA Order 5100.38C, AIP Handbook, paragraph 910, Life Cycle Costs in Competitive Sealed Bids. Life cycle cost analysis is a critical part of the pavement type selection process of many agencies to ensure cost-effective pavements are properly evaluated and selected in the design or bid stage of an airport improvement project.

Webinar #3: AAPTP Projects 04-02 and 04-03: PG Binder Grade Selection & Implementation of Superpave Mix Design for Airfield Pavements
The first presenter will provide an overview of the proposed procedure for selecting asphalt binder grade for airfield pavements using the PG grading system. The basic components of the PG grading system will be presented. Design engineers need to understand differences between the performance of airport and highway pavements that are critical to recognizing the factors that effect PG binder selection. The webinar will present a proposed revision of section 2.3 of Item P-401/P-403 Plant Mix Bituminous Pavements for use by practicing engineers. The revision provides appropriate binder PG grades for a wide range of airfield paving projects and is more effective than existing procedures for selecting PG grades for highway applications. The second presenter will provide a brief overview of the basic components of designing hot mix asphalt for airfield pavements utilizing the Superpave gyratory compactor. Both the Marshall and Superpave mix design methods use a four step mix design method: 1) Material Selection, 2) Optimize Gradation, 3) Optimize Binder Content, and 4) Moisture Susceptibility. The biggest difference between the two methods is the Marshall method utilizes the impact loading of the Marshall hammer while the Superpave method utilizes the kneading action of the gyratory compactor.

Webinar #4: Improved Performance of Longitudinal Joints on Asphalt Airfields
This webinar will provide an overview of technical guidance for the improved construction and performance of longitudinal joints on asphalt airfield pavements. The unsatisfactory performance of longitudinal joints is one of the biggest problems on hot-mix asphalt airfields. Several different approaches to constructing longitudinal joints have been used with varying degrees of success. The presentation will report on the extensive synthesis of research and experience on conventional and special longitudinal joint construction techniques on both airfields and highways. It will include these topics: notched wedge joint, rubberized asphalt joint adhesive, cutting wheel, restrained edge device, joint maker, infrared joint heater, joint tape, paving in echelon, and target compaction level both at the joint and mat. The webinar will discuss present specifications and discuss requirements to use the different joint construction methods.

Webinar #5: Techniques for Prevention and Remediation of Non Load-Related Distresses on HMA Airfield Pavements
Hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements represent a considerable investment in the infrastructure of airfield pavements. This study found that approximately 20 percent of HMA-surfaced airfield pavements have some level of non load associated distress (block cracking, longitudinal and transverse cracking, and weathering and raveling). This webinar presents the results of a technical review of the causes of non-load associated cracking – specifically, how the effects of climate, crude source, chemistry of asphalt aging, HMA mixture and pavement construction variables contribute to non load-associated distress will be discussed. The use of MicroPAVER software to predict pavement-rehabilitation trigger will be discussed. The Guide for Prevention and Mitigation of Non Load-Associated Distress on airfield pavements will also be presented. The webinar will discuss a test procedure that shows great promise for monitoring the aging effects on the life of an HMA pavement.

AirCost Software

AirCost Software Download
The AirCost software was developed under AAPTP 06-06. The program is a spreadsheet and has a blank program and an example program in both the Excel 97 and Excel 2007 format. The Help program must be in the same directory as the program. Programs with data are saved as separate Excel workbooks.