Testing of a Compacted Snow Runway.

• Main Author: Bender,James A.
• Other Authors: SNOW ICE AND PERMAFROST RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT WILMETTE ILL
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1956
• Subjects: Terminal Flight Facilities; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; (*RUNWAYS; SNOW); (*SNOW; TRAFFICABILITY); COMPRESSIVE PROPERTIES; TEST METHODS; SHEAR STRESSES; DENSITY; STRAIN(MECHANICS); AIRCRAFT LANDINGS; STATISTICAL DATA; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0717206; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0717206

The processing of the snow for the runway, by modified pulvimixers using heat, was started on 6 July and completely finished by 1 September. Successful landings on the 200 x 10,000 ft strip were made by C-47, C-54, and C-124 type aircraft. The conclusion that the strip could support these aircraft and the decision to land the planes were based on the laboratory testing. This report describes the methods and techniques used in testing a snow runway built on deep snow, and gives suggested requirements of a snow runway to support various type aircraft. It is not intended as a report on the operational aspects of making such a runway, nor as a critique on the techniques used. Also, it should be realized that this represents the beginning of a long-range program and that additional theoretical work and field work are still necessary. (Author)