Influence of Differential Displacements of Airport Pavements on Aircraft Fuelling Systems

This paper reviews an analytical and experimental investigation of an airport pavement after the occurrence of a ductile rupture on a pipe from an aircraft hydrant fuelling system. In order to identify the causes of the rupture, numerical analysis were carried out to evaluate the vertical and horizontal displacements of the pavement imposed on hydrant pit boxes. Parameters that could validate the numerical model were obtained by means of experimental analysis of the pavement. Therefore, information such as thermal expansion of the airport pavement due to weather conditions and to aircraft jet blast was evaluated. Also, the effects of a high loading caused by aircraft wheels and other airport service vehicles on the pavement, and settlement or movement of adjacent apron were considered.