Strength analysis of aluminum matting plates welded by TIG welding process for airfield repair

One of the fastest ways to repair a damaged airfield, is using the matting plates. These plates are manufactured with various size and materials. If there is no way to continuously manufacture the plates, one can produce two separately parts of them and weld to each other. In this paper, the strength of a matting plate namely AM-2 welded by TIG welding process has been analyzed. For determination of the landing loads, Hercules C-130 aircraft has been considered. Various values of subgrade CBR have been studied. The joining plan of plates has been considered in such a way that the strength in the weld region be greater than before. The results showed that by using the matting plate welded by TIG welding process, the value of the subgrade CBR should be at least 15. Simulating test with crane has been carried out in this paper and good agreement was found in the results obtained by experimental tests and that evaluated by numerical analyses.