Comparative Analysis of Polypropylene Fiber for Rigid Airfield Pavement: Case study of Apron of Gautam Buddha International Airport

Abstract

Airfield pavements come in three main types: rigid, flexible, and composite. Rigid pavements, made of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) slabs on a prepared sub base or base, face challenges due to poor strength in tension and flexure. To address this, Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concrete (PFRC) has been introduced, enhancing toughness, flexural strength, tensile strength, and impact resistance. This study aims to compare rigid airfield pavement with PCC surface courses, with and without polypropylene fiber, focusing on strength parameters, thickness, and cost. The research asserts that PFRC serves as an effective modification technique for PCC, promoting effective rigid airfield pavement design. Strength parameters, including compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength, were assessed. Split tensile strength at 28 days increased by 18%, and flexural strength increased by 14.50%, demonstrating the positive impact of polypropylene fiber. In terms of pavement thickness, the PCC surface course of rigid airfield pavement with polypropylene fiber was 393 mm, while without it was 453 mm, showcasing potential thickness reduction. Total pavement thickness for design air traffic was 943 mm with polypropylene fiber and 1003 mm without. This reduction in thickness indicates a potential for material efficiency without compromising performance.