Challenges with Airfield Pavements

[@reverend434]

My first job out of the MTSU CIM program was an airfield paving operation. We had portable plants scattered across the mid-Atlantic. I learned so much during my time there. Prepping a plant site, erecting the plant, stockpiling materials, logistically planning the delivery of a dozen loads of cement on paving days, batching 300 yards an hour to keep up with the paving train, making beams, running all kinds of heavy equipment including mixers, you name it. I still miss it sometimes

[@TylerLey]

That is so cool! It sounds like an awesome experience.

[@concretelogicpodcast]

Were they dry or wet batch plants? All the recent airfield specs we've seen call for wet batch which eliminates many suppliers.

[@reverend434]

@@concretelogicpodcast wet batch. That’s not surprising about the spec. A dry batch would have a hard time keeping up with a paver I’d say.

[@Papiiswagg]

Project in an airfield in California. The engineers decided to put groves in the concrete parallel to the path of travel. I don't know if it was the close spacing of the grooves but the concrete completely failed.

[@jaded4848]

This is a great video Dr. Ley! As a 3E5X1 (EA) in the Air Force, Airfield Assessments was one of our main jobs, I recall one of my projects from overseas in the dessert was a challenge with the strength of in-situ soil on the airfield before we could pour. It was daily Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) Testing, mixing & compacting until it was suitable for pouring.

[@miguelguajardo4267]

Looking forward to hear all about the consistency tools. Thanks!

[@TylerLey]

Thanks Miguel! We will get some posted soon.

[@danielwhite5705]

Greetings professor I'm learning more about your tarantula curve so I may be able to replace the ACI-211 method in our Company. Wish me luck and thank you. Forever Concrete Freak!

[@TylerLey]

Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

[@clewinclewin]

Hey Tyler - Great video and good luck with developing the "Dreamcrete". (I have been using 10 lbs of macro synthetic fibers per yard of concrete in the spall repair applications for 20 years now in one of the busiest runways in the world - Helping to keep the FOD from getting loose..... ) (I also think macro synthetic fibers can play a big role in reducing many issues you mentioned while adding many benefits)

[@hanskalel4780]

Wow! Super interesting research you're going to do! I'll looking forward for updates.

[@ehsnils]

Concrete runways definitely require very high quality throughout the whole process. Where I live there are still a few concrete roads that have survived since probably the 60's. They have some wear, but are also proving the longevity of concrete paving. The downside is that you feel the joints when you drive on them, something that's even more noticeable when you have a car with low profile tires. But the required precision on the joints isn't the same for ordinary roads as it is for runways.

[@TylerLey]

It is great that you are seeing such good life out of your concrete pavements.

[@Allah-bless-iraq]

You can use roller compacted concrete with fiber. It is the solution for airfield pavement problems

[@jasonlaffan6796]

This is right up Hydronix street. Happy to supply our equipment and any expertise FOC for any trials. Concrete quality, CO2, cost… win win win. Regards all. Jason Laffan, MD Hydronix Ltd.

[@TylerLey]

Jason - It would be great to talk more. Contact me offline. Thanks!!!

[@aochider]

A video focusing on the role of aggregate in concrete would be much appreciated. I've always assumed it was mostly just a way of reducing the amount of cement used and that a higher amount of cement would be ideal if it were economical. This also seems to align with my experience with home store cement products, where a bag of run-of-the-mill concrete is much cheaper than something like precision grout. But my understanding clearly isn't the whole picture due to the sliver spalling/segregation issue, which I knew nothing about. Thanks professor!

[@scorpio6587]

That is good idea for a video. I would guess he already did one in the early days of the channel, but it would be good to revisit. The aggregate provides almost all of the strength, especially compressive load bearing strength. The rest is glue to hold the aggregate together and fill the small voids.

[@StMaanco]

In Australia, Steel Formwork is preferred. Slip formers are very rarely used.

[@criscoylike]

WOW. What's the rate of failure with your placed runways?

[@StMaanco]

Aircraft pavements - how to prevent Fine surface cracking in Hot Climates - We typically specify night works and misting/fogging but have had inconsistent results.

[@scorpio6587]

Can it have layers? How about a top layer with mesh, fibers, etc., to prevent spalling? Or even a topical fiberglass or carbon fiber treatment or some such thing that is adhered to the concrete? To prevent edge slumping, could they lay down a curb on either side first, and then fill in the runway? This way the edges of the monolith would be supported from the beginning, and the mix design could favor other parameters.

[@mikehaworth8328]

As a mechanical engineer we used to joke that if concrete were invented today it would not be authorised, but I admire your enthusiasm, I was part of the (UK) team that designed the National Airport Pavement Test Facility in Atlantic City. Actually just the machine itself the rail system, steel bridge gantry and landing gear attachment. The premise was that it was the subgrade that often failed, leading to the concrete failure. I see much impressive work done on this topic. By the way, Concorde crashed because the FOD was a bit from a previous aircraft taking off, a DC10, not any concrete but it does illustrate your general point.

[@TylerLey]

Thanks Mike! I have heard about the test facility in Atlantic City but I have never seen it. I think concrete is pretty amazing! We can make something that lasts for generations in the weather for only a few cents per pound. IT GIVES ME CHILLS!

[@anullhandle]

​@@TylerLey2020 FAA Airport Improvement Program grants used 68% of 4.3B budget for concrete. The tech center research is tasked with driving down that %.

[@zeb5478]

Do you give seminars for ITL inspectors on this topic?

[@trolleyproblem7195]

This vid said a lot about the special issues for runways, and a lot about how great the solutions will be, but not much about what those solutions will be. Looking forward to follow up videos...?

[@TylerLey]

We are doing the research now. I just wanted to let people know where we are headed and get the word out.

[@bobburke380]

Are you looking into shake on hardener, and 7 day cure via pooling ?

[@patkonelectric]

Do a video on hempcrete.

[@infinitebeing1119]

What if we use diagonal edges in the direction of traffic?

[@Anmxlegend94]

Dr. Tyler, what's up? How are the concrete classes going? You know me.

[@shanetaylor2498]

Hi, I do pavement repairs on NASNI. San Diego my biggest problem is improper dowel placement and fractured sub base. what about a larger aggregate size in your dreamCrete?

[@dchall8]

My father was a USAF aircraft maintenance officer back in the late 50s and early 60s. I remember him talking about the requirement to launch and recover an overloaded (1,000,000 pounds) B-52 and the concrete needing to be 10 feet deep. The plane could carry it, but the worry was damage to the runway. During the Cold War we were always trying to demonstrate some feature or other that the USSR could not do, and flying a million pounds was one of them. I believe later there was a million pound 747 that made a similar demonstration. If you ever get an opportunity to visit Russia, you'll be shocked at how poor their concrete is even within Moscow. Some sidewalks have gaping holes of broken concrete. Surface damage is evident everywhere. And repaired areas are falling apart. As an Air Force officer myself, it made me wonder at the quality of their concrete missile silos. And now, with all the shortcomings of their military maintenance and logistics causing problems in Ukraine, I REALLY wonder about the quality of their missile silos.

[@sparksmcgee6641]

Traditionally they just replaced concrete a lot because they have a lot of energy and cement is easy to steel by the workers.

[@galvanizedgnome]

Good video

[@xlenau]

Hello Tyler, I have two questions for you but it is unrelated to this video. 1) Does drilling bolts on concrete columns to install insulation and cladding cause premature corrosion in rebars? What is the right way of doing it? 2) Can metal cladding start electrolysis between cladding material and steel rebars due to bolting concrete elements? Best wishes from Turkey

[@sparksmcgee6641]

Get pins or mounts that you can epoxy in place. Anythi going in can cause a problem, design so y I u jave a place without steel to mount to.

[@rattlestickconcretetoolshmm]

Love that we have a tool that can help with this process "Rattle Stick" The Military purchases our product just for that reason

[@saadhadi1274]

Maybe more specific airfield concrete design 😇😇😇

[@danielammermann8126]

keep pushin` man ! you can do it 🥰

[@TylerLey]

Thank you!

[@skipwalker1954]

Tyler... as always, super interesting. I would hope at some point you can dial up the enthusiasm a little. You are a tad monotone and low key! ;) As always - big 👍!

[@TylerLey]

Thanks Skip!!!

[@charlesviner1565]

👍Hello Concrete Freaks 🖐

[@TylerLey]

HEY! Have a great day.

[@jasontan1981]

Followed your instagram ❤

[@TylerLey]

Thank you!