Engineering Tests of Modified T12 Plastic Airplane Landing Mat
Engineering Tests of Modified T12 Plastic Airplane Landing Mat

Author: Hugh L. Green

Publisher:

Published: 1968

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13:

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This report describes an investigation conducted for the purpose of evaluating an experimental quantity of commercially fabricated plastic mat. The mat is a sandwich structure fabricated from glass-fabric-reinforced honeycomb core material bonded on top and bottom with epoxy adhesive to polyester-resin-impregnated, glass-fabric, laminated facings. Glass-fabric-reinforced tongue-and-groove side and end connectors are fabricated as integral parts of the panels. Laboratory and engineering traffic tests were conducted to determine various properties of the mat in an overall evaluation for comparison with the original T12 mat and with the project requirements. The service-life criteria under which the mat was tested required 200 coverages of a 25,000-lb single-wheel load with a tire-inflation pressure of 250 psi when placed on a subgrade with a California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of 4. This was more critical than the original criteria under which the T12 was tested, which specified 700 coverages of a 50,000-lb single-wheel load with tire-inflation pressures up to 200 psi when placed on a 15-CBR subgrade. (Author).

Engineering Tests of T12 Plastic Airplane Landing Mat
Engineering Tests of T12 Plastic Airplane Landing Mat

Author: ROBERT. TURNER

Publisher:

Published: 1961

Total Pages: 62

ISBN-13:

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An experimental, commercially fabricated, plastic landing mat designated the T12 was subjected to laboratory tests to determine its structural properties and engineering traffic tests to compare its performance with that of standard M8 steel mat and with project requirements. The laboratory tests indicated that because of fabrication deficiencies the structural properties of the T12 mat were less than considered necessary to fulfill project traffic requirements (700 coverages of 50,000-lb wheel lead with mat placed on subgrade with CBR of 15). Traffic tests (loads of 25,000-50,000 lb, tire pressures of 100-200 psi, on mat-surfaced subgrades with CBR's of 15-17) revealed that the T12 mat as fabricated will not meet project requirements but will sustain two weeks emergency operational category traffic (40 coverages, 50,000-lb load). It is concluded that plastic mat meeting project requirements can be fabricated commercially, and it is recommended that the T12 mat design be modified to incorporate improved connectors and materials and such other improvements as discussed herein and that engineering tests be conducted of the revised design. (Author).