Prediction of Airfield Pavement Responses Using Transfer Functions

Harr, R. B.; White, T. D.; ,

Prediction of Airfield Pavement Responses Using Transfer Functions

by R. B. Harr, Purdue Univ, West Lafayette, United States,
T. D. White, Purdue Univ, West Lafayette, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Aircraft/Pavement Interaction: An Integrated System

Abstract:

A methodology is presented which will aid in the evaluation and maintenance of airfield pavements. Predictions of an airfield pavement's behavior to multiple types and magnitudes of dynamic loads can be processed conveniently utilizing the method presented. Knowledge of how an engineering system, such as an airfield pavement and its subsurface layers, transforms energy can relate a dynamic input to a measured output. Using a mobile nondestructive testing device (NDT) like the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), which has its input and output monitoring equipment included in the circuitry, the relationship between the input and output, called the transfer function can be determined quickly. The time domain functions can be transformed into complex Fourier Domain variables, where knowledge of two or three function units allows the third function unit to be determined using simple mathematics. Since the complex domain is used, the transfer function can relate a number of the aircraft's predetermined dynamic input functions to the predicted pavement response anticipated.

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