EVALUATION OF DOW CHEMICAL EXTRUDED LANDING MAT

The report describes an investigation conducted to evaluate an experimental quantity of extruded aluminum alloy landing mat. The mats are one-piece hollow extrusions fabricated from 6061 (designated MX18-B) and 7005 (designated MX18-C) aluminum alloys, artificially aged to the T6 condition. The panels are interlocked along the sides by means of a hinge-type connector, the components of which are an integral part of the basic panel extrusion. End connectors are composed of extruded connectors welded to the basic panel, and consist of an overlap and underlap section secured by a locking bar after individual panels have been joined together. This investigation consisted of traffic tests to obtain information for use in comparing the performance of the mats with project requirements. The traffic tests were conducted on a prepared subgrade, with a rolling wheel load simulating actual aircraft operations. These tests were conducted with a 25,000-lb single-wheel load with a tire inflation pressure of 250 psi on a mat-surfaced subgrade with a rated CBR of 3.7 and 4.0 for the MX18-B and MX18-C, respectively. (Author)