DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE AIRCRAFT PAVEMENTS IN TROPICAL CLIMATES WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO PLASTIC SHRINKAGE CRACKING

Abstract

The design and construction of concrete aircraft pavements in tropical climates present particular problems. One of the most frequent is plastic shrinkage cracking and this has occurred in certain areas of the pavements at the recently constructed Gaborone International Airport in Botswana. In order to place the problem in context, the paper first deals with concrete aircraft pavement design and construction with particular reference to the principles and methods adopted for the pavements at Gaborone. The paper continues with an introduction to the principles and types of cracking that can occur which is followed by a detailed -analysis of the causes of the plastic shrinkage cracking at Gaborone. Finally the remedial measures undertaken are described and procedures suggested by which such cracking may be minimised in the future.