Semnan University Press Journal of Transportation Infrastructure Engineering 2423-5350 8 4 2023 02 20 Evaluation of performance and 3D modeling of airfield concrete block pavements under vertical load with PLT and Pull-Out tests Evaluation of performance and 3D modeling of airfield concrete block pavements under vertical load with PLT and Pull-Out tests 99 115 7024 10.22075/jtie.2022.27394.1602 FA Mansour Fakhri Professor, Head of Department of Transportation, School of Civil Engineering, K.N.Toosi University of Technology, Tehran 1996715433, Iran VAHID TAHERI CIVIL ENGINEERING- ISLAMIC AZAD UNIVERSITY SEMNAN BRANCH- IRAN Journal Article 2022 06 06 Concrete pavements are commonly used in some areas of airfields such as aprons. Repairing these pavements is costly and time-consuming, and it also disrupts flight operations. The use of concrete block pavement is a more suitable option at aprons. Fewer studies have been done on this type of pavement in the airfields than on roads. For further studies, the performance of this pavement was examined by making a 3D model and a test track with dimensions of 2m×2m. This sample was composed of subgrade, subbase, base and Cement-Treated Base(CTB) layers, with 15cm thickness, for each layer, bedding sand with 3cm thickness and a Unipave-shape (zig-zag) concrete block pavers with 8cm thickness and herringbone pattern. Then their quality was controlled, based on Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) regulation. At the next step, Plate Load Test (PLT), was conducted on this sample. For this purpose, a setup including a concrete foundation and a reaction beam was built. For the first time in related research, several 3D models of concrete block with all its angles and corners representing their actual dimensions were made using ABAQUS software. Then the force-deflection curve, as a guidance chart was presented. The 3D model analysis result showed that the elastic modulus of the concrete block surface could be taken into account at 2000 MPa to achieve the most coordination between finite element analysis and PLT results. Also the Pull-Out test results showed that using Portland cement in the jointing sand improved its performance against the Pull-Out force by about 2 times as the sample with lime in the jointing sand mixture. Concrete pavements are commonly used in some areas of airfields such as aprons. Repairing these pavements is costly and time-consuming, and it also disrupts flight operations. The use of concrete block pavement is a more suitable option at aprons. Fewer studies have been done on this type of pavement in the airfields than on roads. For further studies, the performance of this pavement was examined by making a 3D model and a test track with dimensions of 2m×2m. This sample was composed of subgrade, subbase, base and Cement-Treated Base(CTB) layers, with 15cm thickness, for each layer, bedding sand with 3cm thickness and a Unipave-shape (zig-zag) concrete block pavers with 8cm thickness and herringbone pattern. Then their quality was controlled, based on Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) regulation. At the next step, Plate Load Test (PLT), was conducted on this sample. For this purpose, a setup including a concrete foundation and a reaction beam was built. For the first time in related research, several 3D models of concrete block with all its angles and corners representing their actual dimensions were made using ABAQUS software. Then the force-deflection curve, as a guidance chart was presented. The 3D model analysis result showed that the elastic modulus of the concrete block surface could be taken into account at 2000 MPa to achieve the most coordination between finite element analysis and PLT results. Also the Pull-Out test results showed that using Portland cement in the jointing sand improved its performance against the Pull-Out force by about 2 times as the sample with lime in the jointing sand mixture. https://jtie.semnan.ac.ir/article_7024_0a241f444bebbf0ab6cff316dcfd2a01.pdf