Advanced Construction Material for Airfield Pavements and Rapid Runway Repair

This research describes an investigation of the use of polymer- modified aggregate PMA as a bomb damage repair material. PMA, an open-graded aggregate partially bonded with polymer at the particle interfaces, could be an economical repair material and provide a strong subgrade for repaired airfield surfaces. A PMA repair material would consist of a 6 to 18 in. layer of partially bonded, porous aggregates over push-back debris or over a layer of ballast stone base material. The select fill, an open-graded aggregate, would provide the primary load bearing strength. Adding polymer would provide tensile strength to the aggregate matrix, which, in its unbonded state, would not exhibit any tensile strength. A PMA repair material would also provide FOD protection.