What Are The Differences Between Concrete And Asphalt Runways?
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2021
- Landing on a runway? Do you know the differences between concrete and asphalt?
Runways represent the beginning and end of our time in the air on any given flight. However, while we’re enjoying the sensation of taking off, or the excitement of landing in a new place, that leaves us little time to think of what their surfaces actually consist of. The majority of runways either have a concrete or asphalt surface, but what are the differences?
Let’s start by establishing how exactly concrete and asphalt are composed. The former consists largely of a selection of rocks, known as aggregates. According to cement.org, these are both coarse (larger) and fine (smaller). Aggregates account for between 60 and 75% of a given concrete mix. They are bound together with a paste, which makes up the remainder.
This paste consists primarily of water (14-21% of the entire mix) and cement (7-15%). However, 8% of concrete is air, which gives it a degree of malleability when newly mixed. Concrete takes its solid, rock-like form when the binding paste hardens and gains strength.
Meanwhile, while asphalt also features aggregates like concrete, it has a different binding agent. Indeed, Mixer Direct reports that this binder is a petroleum-based hydrocarbon mixture. It is also darker than concrete, and typically has a darker brown or even black appearance.
But what do these compositions mean in terms of their use as runway surfaces? From a cost perspective, concrete is the more time-consuming surface to install, costing more money in terms of labor hours. It is also more expensive upfront. It is generally stronger, but also more prone to cracking. This can increase the frequency and cost of repairs.
On the other hand, concrete is more environmentally friendly due to asphalt’s petroleum-based binder. Furthermore, it is not subject to deforming under hot conditions in the same way that the more flexible asphalt can be. Furthermore, despite being more expensive upfront, it can work out cheaper in the long run with routine maintenance.
One aspect that is interesting to note is the fact that, according to Aviation Stack Exchange, certain asphalt runways have concrete reinforcements underneath. This layering is done as part of rehabilitation programs. Similarly, other runways have concrete installed on top of asphalt as the latter functions as a strong base that minimizes concrete’s cracking risk.
These are deepest in areas that are subjected to more pressure, such as the ends of runways where large and heavy aircraft most frequently touch down. Of course, the weight of taxiing and departing planes laden with full fuel loads must also be considered.
Overall, airport engineers factor in various aspects, including climate, traffic, and raw material access, when it comes to choosing a runway surface. Each has its own merits, and both are legitimate surfaces. Indeed, New York JFK even has a mixture of surfaces (three concrete runways and one with asphalt).
Not all runways have the luxury of being paved with smooth asphalt or concrete. Indeed, several runways around the world consist of the area’s original surface, without such compounds being layered on top. For example, in 1969, Boeing developed its ‘Unpaved Strip Kit’ to allow first-generation 737s to touch down on gravel landing strips.
Meanwhile, conditions in Antarctica mean that aircraft carrying research scientists there have to utilize blue ice runways. Due to the lower levels of friction on these surfaces, arriving planes rely on the use of reverse thrust to bring themselves to a halt on the runway.
An airport that finds itself on many avgeeks’ bucket lists is Barra (BRR) in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This airport is revered due to its unique runway composition. Specifically, it is one of very few airports in the world where aircraft take off from and land on a beach. This means that its three runways are only accessible in low-tide conditions.
Were you aware of the differences between concrete and asphalt runways? Have you ever landed on or taken off from a runway with a more unusual surface? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
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A number of years back, we bounced on landing. The chief steward gets on the PA system "Sorry about that folks, it's wasn't the captain's fault, it wasn't the airplane's fault, it was the asphalt".
I really appreciate this type of videos talking about topics directly related to aviation and commonly unknown. Thanks for the video!
"Runways represent the beginning and end of our time in the air on any given flight"
Air canada: "Hold my taxiway"
I get it! Kind of.
😂
@Uzbek Flyer it's a reference to an air canada flight about to land on a taxiway instead of the runway. On the taxiway, three planes wrre queued for take off. The landing was aborted. The reason for that was the pilots were already fatigued and it affected their judgement. It happened in 2017.
@Uzbek Flyer look up air canada flight 759.
Harrison Ford likes this.
I have been lucky enough to be kn a paving crew that just wrapped up 28l 10r at SFO, and it was amazing to see what goes into paving a runway.
One thing you forgot to mention is that asphalt is nearly 100% recyclable whereas concrete can only have up to ~40% recycled concrete.
According to news media, EVERYTHING at an airport is "tarmac." Runways, taxiways, ramps...parking lots, access roads, jet bridges, control towers, seating areas, bathrooms...
😂
Gotta pea, just going to find the tarmac 😂
At least they're not calling it macadam.
Finally!
As a civil engineer myself, I'm happy to aviation channels talking about civil engineering aspects of the industry
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Landing at Shinyanga, Tanzania en route from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza in a Precision Air ATR back in 2005 was a helluva experience!!! Gravel runway.
My CFII and I were literally just talking about this yesterday…perfect timing!
Man me to😂😂
I've been waiting to find this out for so long!
I've never actually been there but Mountain Valley Airport (L94) in Tehachapi, CA has a rather unusual runway surface. The first 1200 feet of each runway is dirt, but the remaining 3690 feet is asphalt. I have no idea why they built it that way.
maybe for better grip? tho in rain... good luck...
Thanks for the MSFS 2020 help!
I am an Aviation Management lecturer and have taught Airport Ops as a course where we cover Pavement Management and above video topic too, hence this is really interesting!
“Runways represent the beginning and end of our time in the air on any given flight.” Laughs in helicopter landing in dirt.
I didn’t know about that actually. I also found it interesting to learn about the beach runway in Scotland.
You didn't mention the difference of grip the tyres have in different weather conditions, as any motorcyclist or cyclist will tell you when it's wet there is NO grip on concrete at all with tyres easily slipping or locking up under breaking while asphalt does retain alot of grip in wet weather.
Grooved portland cement concrete can give grip when BRAKING* in the wet.
@@mirufe1 so my phone auto corrects & you feel you have to ride in & correct me? Exciting life you must have.
@@mrgothicman Yes. Yes I do.
Well, as Practical Engineering's Grady Hillhouse would point out, that's "Asphalt Concrete" or "Cement Concrete" -- both are "concretes".
He's got concrete information
Portland Cement Concrete and Asphaltic Cement Concrete.
As a fellow Practical Engineering subscriber, that is a level of jargon only a civil engineer could appreciate. Let the lay people call what they want, as long as there isn't any confusion.
@@deus_ex_machina_ sure. But I didn't realize it was actually asphalt concrete myself until Grady said so.
We laid a bunch of permeable Concrete in our front yard around the edges of the driveway, following his instructions. 3 years old now and it's working out just fine.
@@deus_ex_machina_ Being a professional engineer with a degree in civil engineering that had multiple undergrad construction materials classes, a graduate class in concrete technology, and worked out at the engineering research center on a graduate project on the effects of levels of fly ash concentration in portland cement concrete, I kind of lose my mind when someone goes "look, there goes a cement truck."
Taking off in rural Australia in the rain is um fun for pilots apparently. It's just red dust and gravel so it turns to mud. Add in that it's really hot and windy. I can't wait for my seaplane trip. That will be a cool runway.
In my country (Argentina) most flying schools have grass runways. I learned to fly in one of them, IT is a nice experience
This is interesting 👍
"Because it doesn't use petroleum byproducts, concrete is more environmentally friendly than asphalt"
That doesn't take into account the considerable emissions released when concrete 'cures'. In fact, concrete construction is a major contributor to global warming.
Yes, I was aware. I did my flight training between 2007 and 2009 (abandoned at 80h). In that experience, I used an asphalt runway. On one occasion, I did 2 touch and goes on an unsurfaced runway.
Hot climates concrete, moderate climate asphalt, my observation.
What about cold climates?
Ice
With grooves of course
I’ve flown in a Twin Otter out of grass runways in Central Africa. Different experience but fun.
My father, as an ALPA representative, was involved in investigating a Braniff DC-8 runway overrun in South America (LaPaz I think). He suspected hydroplaning, which would be shown by steam cleaned white streaks on a concrete runway. He was mulling this over and asked me what steam cleaned asphalt would look like.
I fly around Camden YSCN, usually use the asphalt runway 06/24 but for ops such as short field and takeoff, I've used the grass 10/28. Definitely prefer asphalt.
Around 1998 I flew in to Chicago Midway in the winter just after a snowstorm. It was extremely cold around -15C. As we got closer I could see out the window that the runway was covered in ice. Not black ice, but white ice. Aside from the fact that the runway was white everything seemed normal and if I was not looking out the window I would not have know the runway was covered in ice. The landing was not unusually hard or smooth, nor did I feel any skidding. I guess at those very cold temperatures the traction on ice would be as good as on asphalt or concrete.
Someday there is going to be glass runways. Not glass as in windows, glass as in SolarCity roofing tiles.
Emirates 22 Heavy cleared to la... *crash*
i highly doubt it... maybe for the sides of it... but any breakage of the glass is literal Concorde waiting to happen...
Just commenting for UA-cam algorithm
PSP which is short for perforated/pierced steel planking and was also known as Marston Map was the common material used in WWII by the allies to construct temporary airfield. PSP but also saw service in Korean and Vietnam wars.
Please make something about sloped runways.
As an hai stan I’m disappointed that this video isn’t about bricks
The media be like: "What about tArmaC?"
Omg I was about to say!
Mac n cheese aggregate with tar binder
Hello, the asphalt is not worth it for use on the tarmac, because the planes keep digging in and when you have to Jack up the landing gear to change tires you get these rectangle divets from the the jack. At the gates, they have a bunch of sections that had to be replaced with squares of concrete where the asphalt had failed where the aircraft usually park. The other night we had a CRJ-200 that got stuck in the asphalt. I ended up jacking up both main gears to make sure the brakes weren't stuck somehow. I was checking the parking brake control valve, but it was just stuck in the asphalt from sitting overnight and it wasn't even that deep.
There’s a more fundamental reason than that for always using concrete and not asphalt on aircraft parking stands: fuel spillages. The hydrocarbons present in JET A1 fuel will attack the bitumen binder in asphalt, causing significant and ongoing issues. Planing off and regularly resurfacing parking stands would be a crazy and avoidable cost which no airport would ever entertain.
Actually drink represents the beginning and end to all my flights these days unfortunately. Thanks Karen!!
What is the difference between Concrete and Asphalt Runways?
737-200 with gravel kit: Where we're going we dont need roads.
What about ditching in salty and fresh water?
ORD Chicago airport actually has runways with a mix of both!
can you do Bituminous material !
And what engineering methods, no matter the material, are used to shed water (grooving and slope), reduce winter ice, enhance take offs (slope ramping) etc? Tell us more.
I disagree with the statement that concrete is more environmentally friendly. The production of cement creates tremendous amounts of CO2 (and often mercury) emissions, while the petroleum in the asphalt is not burned and therefore does NOT become CO2.
This is I wanna know lol
*what
"Runways represent the beginning and end of our time in the air on any given flight"
I think you mean on any SUCCESSFUL flight
well... any landing you could walk away is a good flight... even if you get some unwanted attention...
The British Airways retro livery is stunning
I like asphalt runways more, the black looks well with white. Unfortunately asphalt isn't good in heat and is not eco friendly.
Asphalt is the most recycled material in the world, something not mentioned in the video. When you take into account the fact that the asphalt taken off an old runway is almost completely recyclable while old concrete is not, I wonder how their relative eco-friendliness stacks up?
@@SearTrip Using oil isn't eco friendly, but that might be true idk.
@@SearTrip and when you add the fact that concrete production is one of the biggest CO2 producers, the difference between the two might not be that important. I wonder if there is precise data
Not just the runways but the entire airport movement area surface requires careful consideration of the required strength. Their are engineering companies specializing in this stuff
imagine the nightmare for those older airports... where the runways were originally made for bi-planes... and now for A380s...
My Mrs had a Brazilian runway ;)
What type is the plane at the bottom right at 2:38 ? it seems like it has engines on top of the wing
Either an An-72 or An-74
Its generally stronger but also more prone to cracking....🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
diamond are also prone to cracking... or maybe better described as shattering
Living in Chicago i learned: concrete alleys never get resurfaced while asphalt ones do.
I don't think that Asphalt is less environbmentally friendly? It is almost infinitely re-cycable, and the carbon in it is not released to the atmosphere. On the contrary, the production of cement is extremely greenhouse-gas emitting.
Grade to see uganda Airlines bird in the beginning of the video
Once landed on the longest runway in the world. Frazer Island's beachline.
avgeeks : the civil aviation needs you to understand the differences between these two.
News Channels : they both are the same.
Also news channels : Tarmac!
The creation of concrete, and baking of lime to make it does release a large amount of greenhouse gasses (mostly C02 i believe) into the atmosphere. I wouldnt be surprised if concrete runways are less common with the anti global warming fights. Especially with Asphalts recyclability.
How about a grass runway. Small airstrips often use this type of runway, or even just dirt runways in the outback. Another type is of-course water for flying boats!!
Why saudia stops Dhaka on hongkong flight
Proper concrete also includes sand. I was always told 1 part cement 2 parts sand and 3 parts aggregate for basic concrete.
if not wrong that's part of the aggregate too... portland concrete need more sand than rocks iirc.
What about bituminous?
As an ex builder, this sort of thing interests me but obviously I know the difference, otherwise I would've been rubbish at my job.
I have seen a tartan runway.
So concrete is stronger, less susceptible to deformation in hot climates and more environmentally-friendly compared to asphalt, but concrete runways can crack, costs more and take longer to build. Which surfaces typically lasts longer? Which surface allows for longer intervals between maintenance?
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1:54 'Concrete is more environmentally friendly'. That's inaccurate. Although asphalt is made of bitumen, a thick by-product of crude oil, that bitumen isn't burnt and doesn't contribute to global warming. Asphalt surfaces are arguably carbon neutral so long as the bitumen used is a by-product and doesn't motivate new extraction. Concrete on the other hand releases large amounts of CO2 due to the chemical process of manufacturing cement. According to Wikipedia the global production of cement accounts for some 7% of CO2 emissions. Alternative methods to produce concrete are being pursued but are not yet adopted.
I prefer concrete runways. They're durable, and the landings are usually pretty smooth.
He forgot to mention that concrete runways have a life expectancy of around 25 years and Ashphalt about 15 years. However, concrete doesn't provide as much traction as Ashphalt.
@@makisekurisu4674 seems to me it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. They both have their good and bad points. I thought they grooved the cocrete though, to make it easier for the planes to stop in bad weather?
@@ecclestonsangel Yes but even croved concrete will still get more slippery in rainy days but not Asphalt
In my rented Cessna 172, they are the same
background music please
You should do better research before making broad statements like asphaltic concrete is more environmentally problematic than portland cement concrete.
The making of portland cement is very fuel intensive and also requires a lot of mining. Replacing a portland cement concrete airstrip also creates a bunch of concrete waste and requires a huge amount of transportation of new materials and waste.
Replacing an asphaltic concrete airstrip usually involves milling the old airstrip and combining the tailings with a small amount of fresh asphalt binder. There is almost no waste and little transportation involved. This is much less impactful than replacing a portland cement concrete airstrip. Additionally, waste items such as shredded tires can be added in with the milled asphalt concrete tailings in making the new refurbished airstrip thus removing the discarded tires from the waste stream as well.
You know, I don't think I've seen a asphalt road that isn't supported by concrete. So I'm pretty sure that asphalt pavements are more expensive than concrete ones in-general.
Isn't asphalt recyclable? where as concrete isnt?
What about paved runway?
Since child I have a recurring dream of a cracked, square-tiled concrete runway exactly like 00:39. I'm walking over it's surface and the place is all empty and abandoned.
Yes, I have taken off my foot from concrete footpath and landed on asphalt road
sad that water runways were ignored
3:29
Graphene has been incorporated into asphalt for runway construction. I can’t remember which airport though.
Slow day at SF
I'd be more interested to know why pilots insist on running the front wheel over the cats eyes during take off. Makes takeoff louder and bumper and I'm sure it doesn't do the wheels any good,
Every pilot learned: the centerline is your friend!
@@cbaurtx thanks for the reply. It might be their friend but it makes my teeth chatter!
Ok so this was a video with internet response and research 🧐
There really exist no asfalt runway... at least not for full size comersial aircrafts... sure for smaler regional airports... yes.
All major runway with asfalt surface have concrete under. The simple reason is thay asfalt is to soft to handle full size airliners landning.
Concrete is not as environmental as most people put it as it takes huge amount on energy to produce it & that energy is is most likely fossil fuel.
Uganda Airlines at 0:08.
Does water count as a runway? (seaplanes certainly think so!)
There is an airport in the port of Copenhagen, for a scheduled seaplane flight between Copenhagen and the port of Aarhus and the runway is marked with buoys. But runway or seaway???
Captain Sully certainly thought so!
Istanbul Airport
Grass is the best.
The word "Tarmac" says it all . ---> except Concrete
I think if you investigate you will find concrete is environmentally very unfriendly.
If I had a glider and took off from a concrete runway it would not last very long, grass every time.
Good, he didnt call the Asphalt, TARMAC
The difference between concrete and asphalt is cost...
They don't use tarmac? Then why the hell people say tarmac then?
Think about the heat that is trapped and radiated out increasing the mean average temperature over a period of time at the airport's location and surrounding areas especially as temperatures increase as the planet warms and in the carbon emissions that jet aircraft and airport support vehicles create that goes into the air and then factor in the indirect costs of health, pollution and environment damage that airport's create so people can have their non-essential holiday.
nah
@@tequilasunrise69 - So you don't think this is happening?
@@chrismckellar9350 i dont this is happening
@@tequilasunrise69 - Why don't you think it wont happen? Don't you know, that dark colours absorb heath? It is a known fact that wide spread use of concrete and asphalt as in urban sprawl, freeways, etc absorbs heat and then becomes a heater at night. That is why large cities are usually hotter than a small rural communities. You need to remember that an large airport foot print is equivalent to a medium size city in all the support vehicles, buildings, passenger cars arriving/departing from the airport, the toxic chemicals used in treys, asphalt, etc that is emitted, etc are factored in.
People travel for work and to visit family back home too you know...
Runways represent the beginning and end of any given flight….. you sure about that? 9/11
The disillusioned energy ostensibly cheat because deer ethically land about a thoughtless butter. puny, mighty wash
Wow this video is not up to the quality of this channel. You should have done you research better. I'm really disappointed.
Concrete is made of Portland cement and stone aggregate. No "paste" involved. Get a clue.
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