SubscribeThe customer, SAC S.p.A. (Società Aeroporto Catania), had problems related to the thin helicopter skids above all at high temperatures (during summer time). The pavement design was analysed in function of the existing pavement.
At Fontanarossa Airport - Catania - Italy, SAC therefore chose Densiphalt® for technical performances and fast application for repair and new building of the 2.900 sq.m. heliport area. A standard asphalt area was transformed into a high performance, joint free area with Densiphalt®.
The pavement design was analysed in function of the existing pavement, and it was concluded that the existing pavement had enough bearing capacity:
Existing pavement:
- 30 mm bituminous wearing course
- 70 mm bituminous binder course
- 200 mm compacted gravel
- 300 mm compacted soil
- CBR = 2,5 %
However, the surface asphalt layer (bituminous wearing course) was severely damaged and could not among various factors withstand the extremely high temperatures of the Sicilian summer. The surface asphalt temperature was measured at up to 65 degrees Celcius during the day, therefore causing a very significant decrease in strength of the bituminous layers.
At the same time, the airport requested a minimum down-time period for the refurbishment of the area. This was one of the important advantages with the choice of Densiphalt®.
The solution was therefore the following:
- 40 mm Densiphalt®
- 60 mm binder course
- Stabilised gravel
- Soil
- CBR = 2,5 %
