A knowledge base for rehabilitation of airfield concrete pavements
Seiler, Wayne Joseph
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Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/21366
Description
Title
A knowledge base for rehabilitation of airfield concrete pavements
Author(s)
Seiler, Wayne Joseph
Issue Date
1991
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Darter, Michael I.
Department of Study
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Discipline
Civil Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Engineering, Civil
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Science
Language
eng
Abstract
Airfield pavement knowledge captured in this research showed that knowledge-based techniques can be used to quickly select and design rehabilitation alternatives for a runway, taxiway or an apron. The AIRfield PAvement Consultant System (AIRPACS) uses the knowledge of planners, constructors, airfield managers and designers to solve difficult jointed plain concrete pavement (JPCP) design problems. This expert system focuses on aircraft safety and pavement structural capacity which are key issues for all pavement design participants. During the validation tests, AIRPACS recommendations were compared to results that were obtained using current empirical and mechanistic design procedures.
"AIRPACS uses the knowledge of pavement design participants and specific airfield information to perform rehabilitation designs. An expert's knowledge is represented using heuristics, or ""rules of thumb"", while airfield information is represented using collections of objects. Airfield objects have been grouped into classes such as aircraft, JPCP components, JPCP distresses, climate regions and JPCP repairs. This natural representation of the airport environment makes it easy to understand the rules in AIRPACS which represent an expert's problem solving knowledge."
AIRPACS uses design expertise to select feasible rehabilitation alternatives for a specific area, or feature, of a runway, taxiway or apron. Routine maintenance, restoration, safety enhancing overlays and structural improvements are considered in the initial feasibility study. If a structural improvement is required, AIRPACS reviews pavement evaluation data and the airport environment to decide if reconstruction, or one of several overlay types, is feasible. Mechanistic, heuristic and empirical design methods are then used to select new JPCP and asphalt concrete structural layer thicknesses, joint types and joint spacings.
The reliability of AIRPACS recommendations were compared to recommendations made by a pavement consultant firm for several projects. Consultant reports used in the validation process included airfields located in several climatic regions of the United States. This research demonstrated that the knowledge captured in AIRPACS can be used to provide reasonable design solutions for JPCP rehabilitation in the airport environment.
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