The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) announced the release of three reports documenting research results from the Airport Concrete Pavement Technology Program (ACPTP).
ACPTP projects employ applied research to address challenges affecting the concrete pavement industry and provide supporting information for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular updates that help airport designers and contractors build safer, longer lasting and more cost-effective airfield pavements.
"These reports represent a major step forward in translating applied research into practical guidance for the airfield pavement community," said Harold V. Honey, chief engineer of ACPA. "By aligning laboratory findings with real-world performance, the ACPTP is delivering tools that improve safety, durability, and cost-effectiveness across airfield infrastructure."
"The outcomes of these projects highlight the value of collaboration between industry, academia and government partners," said Sarah Dalton, senior director of engineering and construction of ACPA. "Together, we are strengthening quality practices and advancing innovations to ensure more consistent and resilient concrete pavements for decades to come."
The three completed projects are:
• Performance engineered mixtures for airfield pavements
This project developed a performance-engineered mixture (PEM) framework for slipformed airfield pavements. A research team led by Oklahoma State University compared laboratory tests with field performance for paving mixtures with various coarse and fine aggregates.
Correlations between the test results and field performance led to practical acceptance thresholds for recommended test methods. The final report offers new recommendations and guidance for various mixture design and testing procedures.
• Quality control and quality acceptance of concrete airport pavement
Results from this project provide a comprehensive roadmap for improving the quality of concrete airport pavements. Developed by a research team led by the University of North Carolina — Charlotte, the project produced a Best Practices Manual for quality processes in the context of the FAA's Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5370-10H guide specifications, item P-501 specification for cement concrete pavement and the military concrete pavement specifications 32 13 14.13.
It also created a model Contractor Quality Control Program (CQCP) and training resources focused on strengthening quality management systems for airfield construction. Guidance resulting from research findings emphasizes a holistic approach, covering everything from materials and mixture development to construction, testing, inspection and acceptance. It is expected to promote a stronger culture of quality and more consistent pavement performance across airport projects.
• Effects of diamond grinding on airfield pavements
Conducted under a contract led by Nichols Consulting Engineers, this project investigated ways in which diamond grinding affects concrete airfield pavements. Research activities included comparing grinding with removal/replacement and assessing the impacts of thickness reduction and friction. Based on site visits, stakeholder interviews and case studies from 13 airports across the United States and Canada, the study found that diamond-ground surfaces — even those more than 30 years old — generally maintain texture and do not create foreign object debris.
The report provides detailed guidance on planning, design and construction, emphasizing that grinding is most effective on durable, structurally sound pavements with appropriate distress levels. When applied correctly, diamond grinding offers a reliable strategy for restoring surface characteristics and extending pavement service life.
"By confirming the long-term durability and safety of diamond-ground airfield pavement surfaces, this research highlights a valuable approach for maximizing the functional life of existing infrastructure and reducing the need for more extensive repairs or costly reconstruction," said Nick Davis, director of technical services of International Grooving & Grinding Association.
History of ACPTP
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Airfield Pavement Technology Program (APTP) facilitated pavement research through cooperative agreements between the FAA, institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations. Twelve years after the original APTP lapsed, the American Concrete Pavement Association and the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) collaborated to advocate for renewed funding. Their efforts led Congress to re-authorize the APTP under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.
Research specific to concrete airfield pavement, conducted under The Airport Concrete Pavement Technology Program (ACPTP), was restarted through a cooperative agreement between the CP Tech Center and the FAA, which was signed in September 2020.
The ACPA played a key role in securing both the authorization of this program and the associated funding by participating in drafting and lobbying for the provision in the airport bill, as well as lobbying for the funding to execute the provision. The program was reauthorized with the FY2024 FAA Reauthorization and is in its second round of funding.
The ACPA currently holds a liaison role within the ACPTP, collaborating with the FAA, program manager and program coordination group to identify research topics, assemble technical panels and more.
For more information, visit acpa.org/.
