A Finite Element Model to Evaluate Airport Flexible Pavements Response under Impact

This paper using finite elements (FE) an approach to determine the contact stresses in a flexible pavement under landing aircraft loads is presented. The proposed 3-Dimensional model simulates the behaviour of flexible runway pavements during the landing phase. A study on the impact of a rubber solid on the free surface of a granular plate is presented, simulating an aircraft gear system landing on with a flexible surface. This study is performed considering two tires on the structural pavement, with the real loads applied directly on the two wheels of the gear system. The application takes in account the frictional phenomena developed between rubber solid and the surface of the pavement during the lockwire.