ATR research generates extensive pavement data, including:
To process and analyze these research data effectively, ATR requires specialized software tools and databases. ATR actively develops and maintains user-friendly software programs that support guidance provided in various pavement-related advisory circulars. Airport engineers worldwide use these advisory circulars to efficiently design, evaluate, and manage pavements.
Since 1995, ATR has been developing software programs, starting with the thickness design software LEDFAA, which was published concurrently with (now cancelled) advisory circular 150/5320-16, “Airport Pavement Design for the Boeing 777 Airplane.” ATR continues to develop and upgrade software programs to meet both software industry standards and FAA cybersecurity standards. By improving interoperability of all programs that make up the software suite, FAA will provide a complete design, management, and assessment tool, further enhancing support for FAA advisory circulars.
Pavement-related Software Tools
For the latest versions of the pavement-related software tools, you can visit the ATR Branch software library. Additional information is available on the FAA Airport Design Software web page.
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Software
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Advisory Circular(s)
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Description
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FAARFIELD 2.1
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AC 150/5320-6G
AC 150/5335-5D
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Provides standard pavement thickness designs that meet structural requirements for both flexible and rigid airfield pavements. Use of this software is required for pavement projects funded by the FAA through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). FAARFIELD also determines Pavement Classification Ratings (PCR) for pavement strength reporting using the ICAO ACR/PCR system.
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COMFAA 3.0
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AC 150/5335-5D
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Pavement strength reporting using the legacy ACN/PCN system. [For ACR/PCR calculations, use FAARFIELD. COMFAA is designed to work with the COMFAA 3.0 Support Spreadsheet.]
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BAKFAA
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AC 150/5320-6G
AC 150/5370-11B
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Performs back-calculation of pavement material properties using Heavy Weight Deflectometer/Falling Weight Deflectometer (HWD/FWD) data.
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FAA PAVEAIR
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AC 150/5380-7B
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Web-based airport pavement management system. Provides users with historic and current information about airport pavement construction, maintenance, and management, and informs airport maintenance and management decision making. Learn more.
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ProFAA
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AC 150/5380-9
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Calculates various pavement roughness metrics using pavement profile data.
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ProGroove
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AC 150/5320-12C
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Determines groove geometric properties from longitudinal profile data (acquired from a special inertial profiler). Grooves can reduce the hydroplaning potential of a pavement during wet weather and are required on AIP-funded runways.
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FEAFAA (Finite Element Analysis - FAA)
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Computes accurate responses (stresses, strains, and deflections) of rigid pavement structures to individual aircraft landing gear loads. Stand-alone tool for 3D finite element analysis of multiple-slab rigid airport pavements and overlays.
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ICAO-ACR
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Calculates ICAO aircraft classification rating (ACR) numbers for aircraft operating on flexible and rigid airport pavements.
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ICAO-ACN
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Calculates ICAO aircraft classification numbers (ACN) for aircraft operating on flexible and rigid airport pavements.
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Project Spotlight: PANDA-AP, Developing an Advanced Pavement Analysis Tool for Airports
The FAA sponsored the development of an advanced pavement analysis tool called PANDA-AP (Pavement Analysis using Nonlinear Damage Approach for Airports). It implements mechanistic-based models that account for damage and rutting not only in the viscoelastic and viscoplastic asphalt concrete layer, but also unbound pavement layers (including base, sub-base, and subgrade) to evaluate performance of commercial and general aviation pavements. It incorporates a standalone enhanced Finite Element model that does not depend on any commercial software. The primary objective of the standalone PANDA-AP is to complement FAARFIELD (FAA’s airport pavement thickness design software) as a “refined analysis tool for commercial and general aviation pavements.” Users will be able to compare performance of different asphalt mixes and different pavement structures. Results from laboratory tests, NAPMRC and NAPTF were used to calibrate PANDA-AP. Use of PANDA-AP will improve pavement life prediction, and compare predicted life of “greener materials” with conventional materials.