Alpha Factor Determination

for 6-Wheel Gears

Gordon Hayhoe, AAR-410, FAA William J.

Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City, New
Jersey, U.S.A.

Need for evaluation

Full-scale test structures and results

Procedure for calculating alpha factors

Alpha factor Proposals for consideration by ICAO

Implications for thickness design

February 2, 2

AAR-410

B-777 Six-Wheel ACNs

For flexible pavements, the ACNs initially
computed for B-777 6-wheel gears
appeared to be unreasonably high.
The FAA had similar concerns about the
existing CBR method for 6-wheel gears.
A380 also has 6-wheel body gears.

February 2, 2

AAR-410

Alpha Factors MWHGL Data

1.4

12-Wheel Failure
1.2

Alpha = 0.23 log C + 0.15

12-Wheel Nonfailure
50-kip Single Wheel Failure

Single Wheel

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

Load Repetition Factor, Alpha

30-kip Single Wheel Failure

30-kip Single Wheel Nonfailure
Dual-Tandem Failure

Twin Tandem
12 Wheels

0.2

Aircraft Traffic Volume Factor, Coverages

0.0
1.0E+00

February 2, 2

1.0E+01

1.0E+02

1.0E+03

1.0E+04

1.0E+05

AAR-410

Interim 6-Wheel Alpha Factor

at 10,000 Coverages
4-Wheel alpha = 0.825
Original 6-wheel alpha = 0.788 (inception
to 1995)
Interim 6-wheel alpha = 0.72 (1995 to
present)
Current 12-wheel alpha = 0.722

February 2, 2

AAR-410

Alpha Factors MWHGL Data

1.4

12-Wheel Failure
1.2

Alpha = 0.23 log C + 0.15

12-Wheel Nonfailure
50-kip Single Wheel Failure

Single Wheel

0.8

0.6

0.4

Load Repetition Factor, Alpha

30-kip Single Wheel Failure

1.0

30-kip Single Wheel Nonfailure

Dual-Tandem Failure
Twin Tandem
12 Wheels

C5-A as two 6-wheel gears

1.4

12-Wheel Failure

0.2

1.2

Alpha = 0.23 log C + 0.15

12-Wheel Nonfailure
50-kip Single Wheel Failure

Aircraft Traffic Volume Factor, Coverages

Single Wheel

1.0E+00

1.0
1.0E+01

1.0E+02

1.0E+03

1.0E+04

1.0E+05

0.8

C5-A as one 12-wheel gear

0.6

0.4

Load Repetition Factor, Alpha

30-kip Single Wheel Failure

0.0

30-kip Single Wheel Nonfailure

Dual-Tandem Failure
Twin Tandem
12 Wheels

0.2

Aircraft Traffic Volume Factor, Coverages

0.0
1.0E+00

February 2, 2

1.0E+01

1.0E+02

1.0E+03

1.0E+04

AAR-410

1.0E+05

National Airport Pavement

Test Facility (NAPTF) for
6-Wheel Tests
Joint FAA and Boeing.
Testing is funded and conducted entirely
by the FAA.
Tests run on flexible test items to
compare 4-wheel and 6-wheel gears.
Construction cycles CC1 etc.

February 2, 2

AAR-410

NAPTF Construction Cycles

CC1 = original construction.

Conventional and stabilized base flexible on lowstrength subgrade (LFC and LFS).
Conventional and stabilized base flexible on mediumstrength subgrade (MFC and MFS).

CC2 = rigid pavements, trafficking completed.

CC3 = flexible pavement reconstruction with four
conventional test items, trafficking and posttraffic
testing completed.

February 2, 2

AAR-410

CC3 Test Pavements - Profile

Direction of Traffic

4 0 ft

P -1 5 4

16-in (40cm) thick

LFC1

6 0 ft

P -4 0 1

5-in thick

P -2 0 9

8-in thick
6 0 ft

P -1 5 4
24-in (60cm) thick

8 0 ft

2 0 ft

P -1 5 4
34-in (85cm) thick

P -1 5 4
43-in (110-cm)
thick

LFC2
LFC3

LFC4

February 2, 2

AAR-410

North, 6-Wheel Track

LFC4

LFC3

LFC2

LFC1

February 2, 2

AAR-410

Trench in LFC2 Flexible

February 2, 2

10

AAR-410

Computation of Alpha Factor

Pass/Coverage ratios calculated from

surface coverages in test wander pattern:
4-Wheel

= 2.36 for CC3 and 2.06 for CC1

6-Wheel = 1.57

Subgrade CBR = trench measurements.

Total structure thicknesses are known.
Contact area = 265 square inches.
Compute Alpha using COMFAA.

February 2, 2

11

AAR-410

CBR Equations
Pre-MWHGL equation:

P
A
t

8.1 CBR

t = Total Thickness
P = ESWL

Post-MWHGL equation:

t = (Ac)0.5 [-0.0481 1.1562 (log CBR/P)

0.6414 (log CBR/P)2 0.473 (log CBR/P)3]

t
P
A

8.1 CBR

February 2, 2

12

OR

Solve the Post-MWHGL

equation for

AAR-410

Change the Input Alpha until the design

thickness is equal to the test structure thickness.

February 2, 2

13

AAR-410

MWHGL Subgrade CBR

Measurements

The CBR of the subgrade for each

MWHGL test item was calculated from all
available measurements:
After

construction, before traffic.

Trench and pit after traffic at surface, 12-inch,
and 24-inch depth.

February 2, 2

14

AAR-410

Summary of NAPTF Flexible

Pavement Full-Scale Test Results
Wheel
Configuration
6-Wheel

4-Wheel

Test Item

Wheel
Load, lbs

Repetitions
to Failure

Coverages
to Failure

CC3-LFC1
CC3-LFC2
CC3-LFC3
CC1-MFC
CC3-LFC1
CC3-LFC2
CC3-LFC3
CC1-MFC
CC1-MFS

55,000
55,000
65,000
45,000
55,000
55,000
65,000
45,000
45,000

90
1,584
20,000
13,000
132
2,970
40,000*
12,000
19,000

57.3
1,009
12,739
8,280
55.9
1,258
16,968
5,825
9,223

Design
Thickness
in
cm
29
73.7
37
94.0
47 119.4
25
63.5
29
73.7
37
94.0
47 119.4
25
63.5
18.5 47.0

Subgrade
CBR
3.72
4.38
4.38
7.45
4.32
4.32
4.32
7.34
7.43

* Extrapolated from rut depth curve

Bold = corrected values

February 2, 2

15

AAR-410

NAPTF and MWHGL Alpha Factor Results

(No conversion of NAPTF to MWHGL structures)
1.4
6-Wheel Failure
6-Wheel Nonfailure

1.2

Alpha = 0.23 log C + 0.15

50-kip Single Wheel F ailure

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

Load Repetition Factor, Alpha

30-kip Single Wheel F ailure

Single Wheel

30-kip Single Wheel Nonfailure

Dual-Tandem F ailure
NA P TF 6-Wheel

Twin Tandem

NA P TF 4-Wheel

12 Wheels

0.2
Aircraft Traffic Volum e Factor, Coverages
0.0
1.0E+00

February 2, 2

1.0E+01

16

1.0E+02

1.0E+03

1.0E+04

1.0E+05

AAR-410

LEDFAA 1.3 Flexible Failure Model

February 2, 2

17

AAR-410

NAPTF versus MWHGL Test

Results

NAPTF pavements tended to last longer

than MWHGL pavements. Possible reasons
for this are:
Indoor

NAPTF operation means lower asphalt

temperatures.
NAPTF asphalt and base layers are thicker.
NAPTF subbase material is of higher quality
(strength screenings versus uncrushed
aggregate).
February 2, 2

18

AAR-410

Procedure for Converting NAPTF Structures to

Equivalent MWHGL Structures (Example)
3 in A C

5 in A C

3 in A C

3 .2 in C A
8 in C A

8 in C A

5 . 2 in C A

2 9 .0
in
1 6 in H Q S

Steps:

6 in C A

1 6 in H Q S

1 6 in H Q S

(a)

(b)

(c)

3 in A C

3 in A C

3 in A C

6 in C A

6 in C A

6 in C A
1 7 .3
in

8 .3 in S Q S

8 . 3 in S Q S
3 6 .5
in
2 7 .5 i n S Q S

1 6 in H Q S

(d)

February 2, 2

1 9 .2 in S Q S

(e)

19

(a) real structure, 29.0 in.

(b) convert 2 in. AC to 3.2
in. CA (E.F. 1.6)
(c) add 3.2 in. CA to exist.
8 in. CA = 11.2 in. CA
(d) convert 5.2 in. CA to
8.3 in. SQS (E.F. 1.6)
(e) convert 16 in. HQS to
19.2 in. SQS (E.F. 1.2)
(f) equivalent MWHGL
structure, 36.5 in.

(f)

AAR-410

NAPTF Flexible Pavement Equivalent

Thicknesses and Alpha Factors
Wheel
Configuration

6-Wheel

4-Wheel

1.
2.

Test Item
CC3-LFC1
CC3-LFC2
CC3-LFC3
CC1-MFC
CC3-LFC1
CC3-LFC2
CC3-LFC3
CC1-MFC
CC1-MFS

SQS = 1.6 CA
Equivalent
Thickness1
Alpha Factor
in
cm
36.5
92.7
0.527
46.1 117.1
0.665
58.1 147.6
0.713
31.7
80.5
0.761
36.5
92.7
0.646
46.1 117.1
0.751
58.1 147.6
0.808
31.7
80.5
0.858
30.9
78.5
0.848

SQS = 1.4 CA
Equivalent
Thickness2
Alpha Factor
in
cm
35.5
90.2
0.517
45.1 114.6
0.656
57.1 145.0
0.704
30.7
78.0
0.744
35.5
90.2
0.634
45.1 114.6
0.740
57.1 145.0
0.798
30.7
78.0
0.839
28.2
71.6
0.793

MWHGL = 3 inches (7.6 cm) of asphalt, 6 inches (15.2 cm) of crushed aggregate base and balance of
uncrushed subbase.
NAPTF P-401 converted to crushed aggregate base with 1.6 equivalent thickness factor.
NAPTF P-154 converted to uncrushed aggregate subbase with 1.2 equivalent thickness factor.
NAPTF P-209 converted to uncrushed aggregate subbase with 1.6 equivalent thickness factor.
NAPTF P-209 converted to uncrushed aggregate subbase with 1.4 equivalent thickness factor.

February 2, 2

20

AAR-410

NAPTF and MWHGL Alpha Factor Results

(With conversion of NAPTF to MWHGL structures)

February 2, 2

21

AAR-410

NAPTF and MWHGL Alpha Factor Results

1.4
6-Wheel F ailure
6-Wheel Nonfailure

1.2

Alpha = 0.23 log C + 0.15

50-kip Single Wheel F ailure

0.8

0.6

0.4

Load Repetition Factor, Alpha

30-kip Single Wheel F ailure

1.0

Single Wheel

30-kip Single Wheel Nonfailure

Dual-Tandem Failure
NA P TF 6-Wheel

Twin Tandem

NA P TF 4-Wheel

12 Wheels

NAPTF structures converted to equivalent

MWHGL structures (SQS = 1.6 x CA) and
C5-A as two 6-wheel gears

0.2
Aircraft Traffic Volum e Factor, Coverages
0.0
1.0E+00

1.0E+01

1.0E+02

1.0E+03

1.0E+04

1.0E+05

No structure conversions and C5-A as two

6-wheel gears

February 2, 2

22

AAR-410

4- and 6-Wheel Alpha Factors for

Base-to-Subbase Equivalency = 1.4
Alpha factor
quadratic curve fit
intercepts at 10,000
coverages:
4-wheel = 0.806
6-wheel = 0.7178
From MWHGL
report:
4-wheel = 0.825
6-wheel = 0.788

February 2, 2

23

AAR-410

4- and 6-Wheel Alpha Factors for

Base-to-Subbase Equivalency = 1.6
Alpha factor
quadratic curve fit
intercepts at 10,000
coverages:
4-wheel = 0.832
6-wheel = 0.7295
From MWHGL
report:
4-wheel = 0.825
6-wheel = 0.788

February 2, 2

24

AAR-410

Subbase Equivalency Factors

Burns, C.D., R.H. Ledbetter, and R.W. Grau.
Study of Behavior of Bituminous-Stabilized
Pavement Layers, Miscellaneous Paper S73-4, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways
Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississipi,
March 1973.
Bituminous stabilized base, asphalt base,
bituminous stabilized subbase.

February 2, 2

25

AAR-410

Subbase Equivalencies
for 12-Wheel Traffic
BLS stabilized layers replaced by
MWHGL equivalent thicknesses

February 2, 2

26

AAR-410

Subbase Equivalencies
for 12-Wheel Traffic
BLS stabilized layers replaced by
MWHGL equivalent thicknesses

February 2, 2

27

AAR-410

Alpha Factor Results - Discussion

Conversion of NAPTF structures gives better

agreement with MWHGL test results.
This indicates that extra conservatism for subgrade
protection has been built into the design procedure
by increasing minimum thickness requirements for
surface (5 in versus 3 in) and base (8 in versus 6 in)
without reducing total thickness.
If 150/5320-6D is used to calibrate LEDFAA then
LEDFAA is also conservative.

February 2, 2

28

AAR-410

MWHGL Designs versus Current FAA

CBR Designs
MWHGL
Reference
Design

150/5320-6D
Design

The MWHGL alpha

factor curves give design
thicknesses for structures
with 3-in asphalt and 6-in
base, and for material
properties the same as the
MWHGL test materials.
Thickness designs for
other layer thicknesses
and properties must be
converted to MWHGL
compatible structures to
give the same level of
subgrade protection.

29

3.0 in AC

5.0 in AC

5.0 in AC

6.0 in CA
8.0 in CA

1.15 x
28.7 in

8.0 in CA
28.7
in

33.0
in
24.0 in SQS

0.87 x
33 in
15.7 in SQS

20.0 in SQS

(c)
(a)

3.0 in AC
3.2 in CA
2.8 in CA

(b)

3.2 / 1.6

3.0 in AC

24.0 in SQS

5.0 in AC

2.0 in AC
2.8 in CA

2.8 in CA
8.3 / 1.6

8.3 in SQS

33.0
in

February 2, 2

MWHGL
Design

24.0 - 8.3
=
15.7 in SQS

31.8
in

5.2 in CA

15.7 in SQS

28.7
in

AAR-410

Alpha Factor Results - Discussion

But, overconservative thicknesses for subgrade

protection may provide other benefits for operation
with heavy aircraft loads.

Safety factor for structural failure.

Compaction rutting in base and subbase materials.
Fatigue cracking of stabilized layers.

LEDFAA and FEDFAA are therefore being

calibrated against -6D designs (5 and 8+ in), not
MWHGL designs (3 and 6 in).

February 2, 2

30

AAR-410

LEDFAA 1.3 Flexible Failure Model

February 2, 2

31

AAR-410

North, 6-Wheel Track

LFC4

LFC3

LFC2

Subgrade CBR = 3.3

LFC1

February 2, 2

32

AAR-410

LFC1 Center Line, 6-Wheel Track

LFC1

CBR = 4.3

February 2, 2

33

AAR-410

CC-3 PHASE-2: LFC-1 CL TRAFFIC TESTS

Pass No = 0
Pass No = 66
Pass No = 132
Pass No = 198
Pass No = 264
Pass No = 330

February 2, 2005

34

CC-3 PHASE-2 LFC-1 CL TRAFFIC TEST RESULTS

5
LFC-1: 6WTP
LFC-1: CL

Rut Depth, inch

0
0

50

February 2, 2005

100

150

200
No. of Passes

250

35

300

350

400

CC3-LFC1 Traffic Results Summary

A relatively small change in subgrade CBR can

produce a very significant change in the magnitude
and character of flexible pavement structural
performance.
Very large deformations can occur at, say, 5 passes,
even when the life to the failure criterion is as large
as 100 passes.
This is the basis for the 240 coverage requirement
in Engineering Brief No. 65, Minimum
Requirements to Widen Existing 150Foot Wide
Runways for Airbus A380 Operations.

February 2, 2

36

AAR-410