Development of surface friction assessment model and measurement framework for airport runway

Abstract

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is the controlling authority of air traffic movement all over the world. Contracting states are given the authority to develop detailed schemes to provide acceptable levels of safety, both in respect of the objective and operational determination of surface friction . As a result, the methods of determination and availability of information differ widely between States. Although runway surface friction coefficient prediction models have been studied for more than half a century in the developed world, research on this topic in Bangladesh as well as in other south-east Asian countries has not been done frequently, indeed. This is mainly due to the complexity of data collection and processing. Even though the current study has tried to focus some effort in this sector and develop a prediction model of runway surface friction coefficient in Bangladesh perspectives. There are many variables that are involved in this phenomenon including speed, ambient temperature, ground temperature, distance and inflation pressure of tire. This study focuses on measurement framework and model development for runway surface friction coefficient based on data collected from Shah Amanat International Airport Runway. Friction data have been determined by Airport Surface Friction Tester (ASFT) car. The multiple linear regression equation has been developed from runway friction data at different speed, ambient temperature, ground temperature, distance and inflation pressure of wheel. This study outcome can be utilized for determination of friction coefficient of runway surface of other airports of our country, identification of level of safety of air traffic movement, evaluation of the effectiveness of aircraft performance, assessment of runway surface conditions and reporting a dissemination of runway surface conditions. This study has analyzed that cruise speed is more dominant over surface friction coefficient of runway surface. This study has revealed that an increment of 20% of speed value increases the friction coefficient value by 42% considering remaining parameters constant. On the other hand, increment of air temperature value by same amount increases friction coefficient value by 4.4%. Similarly, an increment of ground temperature, tire pressure and distance value by 20% result in a decrement of friction coefficient value by 8.8%, 32.6% and 2.9% respectively. The understanding of each of these variables will help one to realize the magnitude of the problem that one faces and eventually design more reliable friction measuring techniques.