Non-invasive diagnostic methods for investigating the quality of Žilina airport’s runway

Martin SLABEJ; Michal GRINČ; Matúš KOVÁČ; Martin DECKÝ; Stefan ŠEDIVÝ

doi:10.1515/congeo-2015-0022

Martin SLABEJ Research centre of University of Žilina in Žilina, Žilina, Slovak Republic
Michal GRINČ Earth Science Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Division of Geophysics
Matúš KOVÁČ Department of Highway Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Žilina
Martin DECKÝ Department of Highway Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Žilina
Stefan ŠEDIVÝ Research centre of University of Žilina in Žilina, University of Žilina in Žilina,

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/congeo-2015-0022

Keywords: runway, pavement surface, unevenness, Profilograph GE, GPR, horn antenna

Abstract

The Žilina airport was after almost 50 years of use measured by non-invasive methods including GPR and Profilograph GE in order to investigate the quality of the runway pavement at the chosen spots. Since it was just a pilot action, a sample of survey was carried out. The testing spots were placed where the geologic drill core J02 have been drilled out. The measurements performed by Profilograph GE were used to verify the quality of the pavement surface in term longitudinal unevenness by means of index IRI and C. The GPR survey was performed in 3D geometry, hence in the x- and y-direction. A horn type antenna with central frequency of 2 GHz was used on the test field in order to verify the thicknesses of pavement construction layers. Here, the result of a 3D survey is presented. The investigation confirms two sub-horizontal construction layers of the runway pavement. In some areas the GPR interpretation was not possible due to the signal attenuation. This significant signal attenuation is found mainly in the areas where the linear cracks are situated.

Author Biographies

Martin SLABEJ, Research centre of University of Žilina in Žilina, Žilina, Slovak Republic

Univerzitná 8215/1, 010 26 Žilina

Michal GRINČ, Earth Science Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Division of Geophysics

Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 28 Bratislava, Slovakia

Matúš KOVÁČ, Department of Highway Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Žilina

Univerzitná 8215/1, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia

Martin DECKÝ, Department of Highway Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Žilina

Univerzitná 8215/1, 010 26 Žilina, Slovakia

Stefan ŠEDIVÝ, Research centre of University of Žilina in Žilina, University of Žilina in Žilina,

Univerzitná 8215/1, 010 26 Žilina, Slovak Republic