Decision framework for pavement friction management of airport runways

Abstract

Periodic rubber removal from runway pavement surface is necessary to keep an airport runway safe for aircraft operations. However, due to the complex relationship between pavement friction and aircraft skidding, there are no clear-cut decision rules as to when a rubber removal operation should be performed. The question is what pavement friction state should be selected as the activation level for rubber removal. A subjective approach to examining the area distribution of frictional resistance of runway pavement surface has been in use in Singapore airports for the last 15 years. This paper describes the development of a decision analysis framework based on past experience of rubber removal operations at the airport. This was carried out with the aim of reducing the reliance on a few experienced maintenance staff for such an operation, and of improving the consistency and continuity of the rubber removal decision-making process. The decision framework includes a neural network decision model for rubber removal, and a prediction model to estimate the growth of affected pavement areas for planning purpose.