Impact of Airport Rubber Removal Techniques on Runways

119 Pages·2008·3.13 MB·English

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Airport cooperAtive reseArch progrAm
ACRP
SyntheSiS 11
Impact of Airport Rubber Removal Techniques
on Runways

A Synthesis of Airport Practice
conSultAnt
Douglas D. gRansBeRg
university of oklahoma
norman, oklahoma
Subject AreAS
aviation
Research sponsored by the Federal aviation administration
TransporTaTion research Board
Washington, D.C.
2008
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Hagerstown Regional Airport Topic paneL
SEAN ACKERMAN, Runway Services, Woodland Hills, CA
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LORI PAGNANELLI CHRISTINE GERENCHER, Transportation Research Board
DAVID HENSLEY, Phoenix Aviation Department
DAVID LEPINE, Kadmas, Lee and Jackson, Rapid City, SD
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CHRISTINE GERENCHER
Cover Figure: Vehicular-mounted shotblaster
Courtesy: Jenman (2006).
ForeWord Airport operators, service providers, and researchers often face problems for which information
already exists, either in documented form or as undocumented experience and practice. This
information may be fragmented, scattered, and unevaluated. As a consequence, full knowledge
of what has been learned about a problem may not be brought to bear on its solution. Costly
research findings may go unused, valuable experience may be overlooked, and due consider-
ation may not be given to recommended practices for solving or alleviating the problem.
There is information on nearly every subject of concern to the airport industry. Much of it
derives from research or from the work of practitioners faced with problems in their day-
to-day work. To provide a systematic means for assembling and evaluating such useful
information and to make it available to the entire airport community, the Airport Coop-
erative Research Program authorized the Transportation Research Board to undertake a
continuing project. This project, ACRP Project 11-03, “Synthesis of Information Related
to Airport Practices,” searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available
sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this
endeavor constitute an ACRP report series, Synthesis of Airport Practice.
This synthesis series reports on current knowledge and practice, in a compact format,
without the detailed directions usually found in handbooks or design manuals. Each report in
the series provides a compendium of the best knowledge available on those measures found
to be the most successful in resolving specific problems.
preFace This synthesis study is intended to inform airport operators about the impacts of four com-
mon rubber removal methods on runways.
By Gail Staba
Runway rubber removal is an essential function to maintain safe landing areas for the
Senior Program Officer
nation’s aviation industry. The FAA requires that strict standards for runway skid resistance be
Transportation
attained and maintained at all airports. One technique that has been used successfully through-
Research Board
out the world to enhance runway skid resistance is the cutting of grooves in the surface of
those areas of the runway where touchdown and braking are critical. The use of grooved run-
ways provides an increased level of safety by furnishing enhanced drainage through increased
pavement macrotexture, which reduces the potential for hydroplaning when runways are wet.
Buildup of rubber fills the micro- and macrotexture of the pavement, causing a serious loss of
skid resistance when the runway is wet, and as a result must be periodically removed.
There are four methods to remove runway rubber: waterblasting, chemical removal, shot-
blasting, and mechanical means (including sand blasting, scraping, brooming, milling, and
grinding). The use of these methods varies across the country based on a number of reasons,
ranging from environmental restrictions to the availability of competent rubber removal
contractors. The research on these methods has not been comprehensive. Additionally, field
experience has shown that if these methods are not properly applied they can cause damage
to the runways and especially to the grooves. Much of the equipment that is in use is also
proprietary, making it difficult for airport operators to develop standards and specifications
that can be used to confidently achieve the desired end result. Thus, this report synthesizes
the state of the practice in runway rubber removal.
The information for the synthesis was gathered through a search of existing literature,
survey results from questionnaires sent to airport operators and airlines, and through inter-
views conducted with airport operators.
Douglas D. Gransberg, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, collected and
synthesized the information and wrote the report. The members of the topic panel are
acknowledged on the preceding page. This synthesis is an immediately useful document that
records the practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available
at the time of its preparation. As progress in research and practice continues, new knowledge
will be added to that now at hand.

conTenTs
1 SUMMARY
5 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Runway Rubber Removal Background, 6
Key Definitions, 7
Synthesis Methodology, 8
12 CHAPTER TWO WATERBLASTING RUBBER REMOVAL TECHNIqUES
Introduction, 12
Waterblasting Advantages, 12
Waterblasting Disadvantages, 14
Waterblasting Survey Results, 16
Waterblasting Specifications, 19
Commonly Used Practices, 21
23 CHAPTER THREE CHEMICAL REMOVAL TECHNIqUES
Introduction, 23
Chemical Removal Advantages, 23
Chemical Removal Disadvantages, 23
Chemical Removal Survey Results, 26
Chemical Removal Specifications, 29
Commonly Used Practices, 31
32 CHAPTER FOUR SHOTBLASTING RUBBER REMOVAL TECHNIqUES
Introduction, 32
Shotblasting Advantages, 32
Shotblasting Disadvantages, 32
Shotblasting Survey Results, 34
Shotblasting Specifications, 35
Commonly Used Practices, 36
37 CHAPTER FIVE MECHANICAL REMOVAL TECHNIqUES
Introduction, 37
Mechanical Removal Advantages and Disadvantages, 37
Mechanical Removal Survey Results, 38
Mechanical Removal Specifications, 38
Commonly Used Practices, 39
40 CHAPTER SIx RUBBER REMOVAL CASE STUDIES
Introduction, 40
Airport Case Studies, 40
Conclusions, 47
48 CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Introduction, 48
Analysis Of Total Population, 48
Potential Runway Damages Owing to Rubber Removal, 50
Standard for Rendering Conclusions, 50
Conclusions, 50
Further Research, 53
55 REFERENCES
58 GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS
Glossary, 58
Acronyms, 59
Airport Codes, 59
60 BIBLIOGRAPHY
61 APPENDIx A qUESTIONNAIRES
79 APPENDIx B CONSOLIDATED SURVEY RESPONSE DATA
98 APPENDIx C RUBBER REMOVAL TECHNIqUE TECHNICAL DATA
106 APPENDIx D SUMMARY OF RUBBER REMOVAL RESEARCH
108 APPENDIx E RUBBER REMOVAL CONTRACTOR CONTACT INFORMATION