PCN Estimation of Flexible Airfield Pavements

ABSTRACT Classification of Airport pavements has always been a useful tool for the authorities of every airport as it helps them not only to avoid causing extensive damage to the pavement, but also to utilize it to the maximum extend and reduce the maintenance cost. However, in practice the structural classification in terms of the official ICAO procedure (the ACN-PCN) is not really simple; in fact a lot of problems and inconsistencies have to be overcome. Difficulties may also appear in practical applications, such as happened during the classification of two of the major international airports in Greece. Possible solutions, experiences from the field implementation of some popular classification methods, as well as an alternative approach for the PCN calculation are presented and discussed.