Runway Slipperiness and Slush

Abstract

SummaryA review is made of recent research in the United States relating to runway slipperiness and to slush-drag or fluid-drag effects on aircraft ground performance. The formation of fluid spray and its drag effects on aircraft are traced from spray origin at the intersection of the tyre and runway to impingement on the aircraft over the complete aircraft ground-velocity range. Six manifestations of tyre hydroplaning are presented and discussed: fluid-drag peak, tyre spin-down, loss of aircraft directional stability, loss of aircraft braking traction, suppression of bow wave, and progressive detachment of the tyre footprint from the fluid-covered runway surface as ground speed is increased. A convenient formula for estimating tyre-hydroplaning speed is indicated to bewhere Vp=hydroplaning speed, knotsp=tyre-inflation pressure, lb/sq in.Comparison with available experimental data is shown. The effects of fluid viscosity and density on runway slipperiness are discussed. The effects of some runway-surface textures, tyre-tread patterns, and aircraft landing-gear wheel arrangements on slipperiness are described. The paper also includes indications of areas of interest that need further study.