Tigerbrain Engineering, Inc. provided airfield pavement SME Title I services for a CPFF project supporting the full depth repair of Runway 13-31 at Ascension Auxiliary Airfield.  We deployed a site evaluation team led by Dr. John R. Anderson, PE, and Mr. Jim Lafrenz, PE, and our airlift-ready laboratory to identify critical runway reconstruction features.

Tigerbrain’s pavement and subsurface geotechnical investigation identified numerous challenges and solutions to reconstruct on volcanic ash that degrades under construction equipment.  Tigerbrain investigated multiple global aggregate sources and developed the quarry and on-site crushing requirements to produce the 400,000 tons of material that would meet UFGS criteria after handling seven times.

Tigerbrain developed the concrete, asphalt, and aggregate base mix designs that could be achieved after receiving the trans-Atlantic aggregate shipments.  

Tigerbrain was on-site to prepare for and pave the asphalt test section, and then provided on-site personnel throughout paving. 

Tigerbrain provides pavement and civil engineering services to CSX Railroad’s 35 container intermodal terminals. The terminals are located throughout the eastern US and Canada. 

Tigerbrain provides the pavement coring and testing with its drill rig, topographic surveys, design, bid documents, plans, specifications and full-time construction inspection for repairs at about 10 terminals each year. 

The terminals use everything from 3-wheel piggypackers, to rubber-tired gantry cranes to 285,000 pound reach stackers in their terminals.  

Little Rock AFB is the largest C-130 training base in the world and the runway is 12,000 feet long. Reconstructing the single runway airfield while maintaining full flight mission tempo was crucial to the Base. Training regulations limit landing zone use to advanced student pilots. Therefore, a phasing plan was developed that first built 1000 feet of temporary taxiway at the runway midpoint. The threshold was then displaced, allowing for half the runway to be reconstructed. For safety, the displaced threshold overrun requires reconstruction within 30 days.

Tigerbrain conducted the geotechnical investigation, pavement evaluation, geometric and grading design, airspace studies, obstruction survey and waiver removal analysis, and pavement markings, and the plans, specifications and design report were prepared for the project. Tigerbrain is providing full Title II services with four full-time onsite construction inspectors plus field office staff for the 40 month construction effort.

Tigerbrain led the Title I airfield design for the 2800 meter full-depth runway keel replacement for Runway 18-36 at Shindand Air Base in Herat Province, Afghanistan.  The project schedule was critical; within an hour of arriving at the Base, Tigerbrain initiated the first runway boring.  The 100% design was completed onsite in 60 days with support from the stateside office.

Tigerbrain directed field testing, interpreted the results, designed the profile grades, geometry, pavement, markings, and prepared the plans, specifications and design analysis for the runway.

Tigerbrain’s relationship with global contractor’s enabled the use of a nearby concrete rubblization machine, facilitating concrete removal and cutting several weeks from the schedule. Tigerbrain’s understanding of materials enabled utilization of local materials that met Air Force requirements, reducing costs and accelerating construction.

This project is a clear demonstration of Tigerbrain’s service in an austere war zone, ability to rapidly assess existing conditions, optimize use of local materials, and work with forces. The $39 million dollar runway opened one week ahead of schedule.

Tigerbrain Engineering, Inc. is supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with airfield construction quality assurance oversight services for Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (MSAB) construction efforts including dynamic compaction, site demolition, grading, site development, and airfield paving of approximately 221,970 square meters of pavement.