Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Proposed Nigerian Specification For Airport Pavement Foundation Design (A Case Study Of Asaba Airport Site)
by Kayode-Ojo, N., Anyafulu U. O. and Ehiorobo, J. O.

Abstract:
Airport projects are becoming the desire of every state of the Nigeria. The increase in the development of airports implies increase in the design and construction of airport runways which have been identified as the most important facility in any airfield. This study was aimed at producing a proposed Nigerian specification for earthworks in airport pavement foundation design and construction. The soils from the study area (Asaba Airport, Delta State, Nigeria) were characterized and classified using the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), compared with the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) standard and the functional standard of the British Ministry of Defense for Airfield Pavements. The soils were found to be sandy clays of low to intermediate plasticity. The maximum dry density of soils under study ranged from 1850 kg/m3 � 2000 kg/m3, their CBRs ranged between 6 and 15.15% while the approximate values of their modulus of subgrade reaction ranged from 3.84 x 106 to 5.54 x 106 kg/m3. With the characteristics above, the soils met the criteria of the FAA for airport pavement foundation design and construction. To arrive at a Nigerian standard for specification of earthworks in Airport pavement foundation design and construction, modifications were made to the American standard and the resultant document suggested for adoption as the Nigerian standard for evaluation and specification of earthworks (subgrades) in Airport pavement foundation design and construction.

Keywords: Airport Pavement, California Bearing Ratio, Earthwork, Foundation, Evaluation.

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