A soft-ground arresting system provides an economical and nondestructive means for decelerating an aircraft that would otherwise be unable to stop safely within the confines of the runway including the safety or overrun area. This report validates a mathematical model developed to predict deceleration of an aircraft as it travels through a soft-ground arresting system. Full-scale tests were conducted at the Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center using the FAA's instrumented B-727 aircraft. The speed of the aircraft entering the beds ranged from 20 to 80 knots. The dimensions of the bed were as follows: foam thickness range was from 6 to 18 inches; test bed length was from 88 to 176 feet; width was always 40 feet. In each test the deceleration experienced by the aircraft was recorded in addition to its velocity, landing gear loads, and brake torque. The results of these tests showed that actual measured parameters from the aircraft were within 10 percent of the values predicted by the mathematical model; thus validating the accuracy of this model. The 18-inch-thick foam bed provided the most effective deceleration without exceeding the stresses encountered by the aircraft during normal operation. Fire and rescue equipment can maneuver and conduct emergency operations within the foam arrestor bed without difficulty.... Soft-ground arresting system, Overrun, Deceleration, Phenolic foam, Runway safety area, Foam bed.


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    Soft Ground Arresting System for Airports

    J. C. White / S. K. Agrawal | NTIS | 1993


    Aircraft arresting system

    Rhody, F.J. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1965