Heat resistant concrete for airfield pavements: Preliminary numerical study

Abstract Concrete airfield pavements subjected to the exhaust gas of the F/A-18 aircraft auxiliary power unit experience cracking and spalling. A two-step finite element simulation of the airfield pavement yields the temperature distribution and the consequent stress field. It is shown that normal weight concrete pavements will deteriorate. A parameter study is then carried out to assess the influence of each concrete property on the thermal stress field. From this study, the adequacy of any type of concrete can be determined. In particular, the properties of all-lightweight structural concrete are considered. It is shown that all-lightweight structural concrete may provide a satisfactory solution, even when the pavement is initially frozen.