Numerical investigation of expanding the width of the airports taxiway via EPS block and Geogrid layer

This paper presents a numerical study performed to investigate the effect of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) geofoam panels with geogrid layers placed over the loose subgrade of the airports for expanding the width of the airports taxiway route with the same thickness of the pavement which is overlaid on the resistant subgrade. In this paper, airport pavement thickness is designed by FAARFIELD, which is a computer program implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration for design of flexible pavements. A practical model that is capable for understanding the EPS geofoam block response to compressive loading is implemented in the analysis. Parameters are considered in this research are the density of the EPS block, the number of the geogrid layers which are implemented in the optimum depth from the loading surface and the stress of the two practical airplanes over the pavement surface. Results of the analysis shows the differential surface settlements between the pavements which are reinforced simultaneously by the EPS geofoam block and two layers of the geogrid, that are located over the loose subgrade with existence taxiway that is placed over the resistance subgrade are less than the ICAO regulations. The results shows that the EPS blocks are practical material for using as a buffer over the loose subgrades of the airports.

Keywords:

Geofoam (EPS) , Airport Taxiway , Numerical Analysis , Geogrid