DETERMINATION OF SERVICEABILITY RATING OF INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RUNWAY PAVEMENTS IN NIGERIA; CASE STUDY PORT-HARCOURT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RUNWAY

Abstract

The serviceability rating of selected Airport runways in Nigeria have been determined with focus on Port Harcourt International Airport. A visual inspection of the runway pavements were first undertaken to determine the nature and types of deterioration. Thereafter the pavement condition index was determined for each runway. The dynamic cone penetration test was also conducted to provide geo technical information for the design of the pavement rehabilitation/upgrading work. The visual inspection revealed the pavement distresses; while the pavement condition index (PCI) showed their magnitude. The ratings of the airports using standard scale of measurement were: Kano 94; Abuja 57; Port-Harcourt 36; and Lagos 23 with 100 being perfect PCI; implying that Lagos international airport was considered as very poor, Abuja as good and Kano as excellent. The result of the Dynamic Penetration Test also showed that the water table was low, while the subgrade and other underlying formation meet required standards of CBR. The results of the tests conducted on the runways were used to evolve appropriate procedure and methodology for their rehabilitation and upgrading.