The U.S. military requires the ability to rapidly
deploy troops, equipment, and materials anywhere in
the world. Recent operations have brought attention
to the need to utilize austere, unsurfaced, and
sometimes sub-standard airfields within a theater of
interest. These airfields may require additional
taxiways and aprons. One option for the rapid
construction of such is airfield matting systems.
The focus of the work for this thesis was
commercially available airfield matting systems to
support large military transport aircraft, such as
the C-17. Several test sections with differing
strength soils were built with chosen mats tested in
an elimination method, using a load cart that
simulates contingency loading of one main gear of
the C-17. Matting systems were evaluated based on
logistical and assembly requirements, and
deformation and damage sustained during traffic. A
modeling effort was performed to investigate the
potential of a simple model to predict the response
of these matting systems under full-scale testing.
deploy troops, equipment, and materials anywhere in
the world. Recent operations have brought attention
to the need to utilize austere, unsurfaced, and
sometimes sub-standard airfields within a theater of
interest. These airfields may require additional
taxiways and aprons. One option for the rapid
construction of such is airfield matting systems.
The focus of the work for this thesis was
commercially available airfield matting systems to
support large military transport aircraft, such as
the C-17. Several test sections with differing
strength soils were built with chosen mats tested in
an elimination method, using a load cart that
simulates contingency loading of one main gear of
the C-17. Matting systems were evaluated based on
logistical and assembly requirements, and
deformation and damage sustained during traffic. A
modeling effort was performed to investigate the
potential of a simple model to predict the response
of these matting systems under full-scale testing.