Establishing the process-structure-property-performance relationship and viable repair pathways for expeditionary airfield surfacing systems.

Expeditionary airfield (EAF) surfacing systems, or airfield matting, have enabled the operation of aircraft in austere environments for over eight decades. However, there is a need to evaluate newly proposed and legacy EAF systems to establish compatibility with current and next-generation aircraft. Furthermore, due to logistical issues, there is a need for improving sustainability of EAF systems once deployed in theater. As such, the overall objective of this research seeks to establish a process-structure-property-performance (PSPP) relationship of EAF surfacing systems to enable characterization and performance predictions for legacy and next-generation designs while evaluating repair pathways that can be performed onsite at the Point-of-Need. This first objective of this present work was to determine failure mechanisms within an EAF surfacing prototype system to establish fundamental links between manufacturing processes and mechanical performance under full-scale trafficking experiments. Local numerical simulations and analytical techniques were integrated into the root-cause analysis to illuminate causes of failure and potential pathways for improvement, compare and contrast with legacy failure modes, and generalize findings for other metallic EAF systems. The second objective of this research focused on developing a global EAF framework in which full-scale arrays of matting can be modeled and the response to static aircraft loads can be analyzed in a manner consistent with full-scale trafficking experiments. Flexural and shear anisotropy in the mat core and non-linearity in the interlocking joints is integrated into the framework to provide flexibility to accommodate other matting systems. Additional comparisons with experimental data ensure reasonable fidelity within the developed framework. The third objective of this research was to couple the global modeling framework to performance models based on global and local boundary conditions such as lay pattern, subgrade strength, gear load, and end connector geometry. Emphasis was placed on model efficiency and fidelity across a wide range of subgrade CBRs while retaining sufficient flexibility to accommodate other systems. Additional comparisons with experimental data support the robustness of the predictive framework. Finally, the fourth objective was to investigate a novel repair approach for EAF surfacing systems. This solid-state additive manufacturing (AM) and repair method can be implemented with minimal infrastructure once an EAF surfacing system has been damaged or rendered failed. Particular focus was placed on reducing time at elevated temperatures and increasing the cooling rate in the deposited material and underlying substrate to mitigate deleterious precipitation coarsening effects.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Kinser, Ryan P., 1996-

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Allison, Paul Galon, 1981-
• Jordon, J. Brian (James Brian), 1979-

• Expeditionary airfield.
• Airfield matting.
• Additive friction stir deposition (AFSD)

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/12825

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/12825