Characterization of aircraft landing impact loads: Effects on vertical tire-pavement contact characteristics and pavement performance

The comprehensive understanding of the mechanistic behavior of airport pavements under aircraft landing loads is essential for ensuring safety and durability. Addressing the limited understanding on the interaction between aircraft landing gear and airport pavement during landing, this study proposed a measurement method for the vertical dynamic contact characteristics of tire-pavement interface and internal dynamic responses based on a laboratory dynamic test device. This involved the experimental design and testing method for the dynamic characteristics of landing gear landing loads, utilizing the Tekscan pressure measurement system to evaluate the vertical dynamic contact characteristics between the aircraft tires and pavement during landing. Through comparative analysis with the static results, the study revealed the importance of landing load measurements for mechanical response analysis and durability design of airport pavements. Additionally, the study investigated the dynamic response of airport pavements under different simulated aircraft landing speeds and weights, and further quantified the impact effects of aircraft landing loads on airport pavements. The results show that the vertical tire-pavement contact characteristics under landing impact are significantly different from those under static conditions, and need to be considered. The proposed quantitative equations with acceptable good fitting effect provided more accurate and efficient vertical load inputs for numerical simulation and durability design of airport pavements, which laid the foundation for understanding the failure mechanisms of airport pavement and enhancing the safety of aircraft and airport operation. [Display omitted] •Dynamic test device provides a measurement method for aircraft landing impact load.•Dynamic contact characteristics reveal cause of airport pavement early failures.•Landing sinking speed greatly affects the aircraft-pavement interaction mechanism.•Time-domain characteristics of pavement responses under landing loads are revealed.•Quantitative models for predicting landing loads and optimizing pavement design.