Performance of Unsurfaced Runway Under Actual Aircraft Landing

摘要

The landing and takeoff capability of aircraft on unsurfaced runways is of major importance to many airforces and organizations all over the world. In this respect, it is essential to be able to predict reliably the operational carrying capacity of unsurfaced runways. Aircraft landing exercises on actual unsurfaced runways were performed in the context of a recently concluded research on the performance of unsurfaced runways. This paper summarizes the results of three exercises conducted with C-130 aircraft, at two different sites in southern Israel. The granular soil encountered in both sites exhibits natural cementation during drying processes. Strength changes and the development of rutting were monitored and analysed. The results showed an accelerated rate of rut formation, far beyond expectation according to accepted design nomograms.Some ideas as to the deviant behavior of the soil were suggested, and implemented in a later research on the behavior of dry granular soils under repetitive wheel loading.