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Accession Number:
AD0813587
Title:
LABORATORY AND ENGINEERING FIELD TESTS OF ELECTRONIC-WELDED MEMBRANE SURFACING (T15) FOR HELICOPTER LANDING PADS.
Descriptive Note:
Final rept. 6 Sep 63-2 Jun 64,
Corporate Author:
ARMY ENGINEER WATERWAYS EXPERIMENT STATION VICKSBURG MS
Report Date:
1967-04-01
Pagination or Media Count:
61.0
Abstract:
Laboratory tests were performed at the U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station to determine the feasibility of using a lightweight, electronically welded, vinyl-nylon T15 membrane as a surfacing for helipads. Electronic welding together of strips of membrane permitted fabrication of the entire surfacing for a helipad in one piece at the factory, thus greatly reducing construction time over that required to join membrane strips with adhesive in the field. Engineer field tests of the T15 membrane surfacing were conducted at Cairns Army Airfield, Ft. Rucker, Ala., during the period 6 September 1963-2 June 1964 to determine the operational suitability of the membrane when exposed to traffic of U. S. Army wheel- and skid-geared helicopters over a long period, and the rate at which it could be placed. During the tests, 3309 helicopter operations were performed on the T15 membrane-surfaced helipad. It was concluded from the field tests that 1 wheel-geared helicopters will not damage the surfacing, but skid-geared helicopters will puncture and cut the suracing 2 the waterproofing and dustproofing qualities of the surfacing can be maintained by repairing the membrane with patches and adhesives 3 the surfacing can be placed rapidly by inexperienced personnel and 4 a membrane surfacing should be developed that will be satisfactory under operations of skid-geared helicopters.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
