Research on Vertical Deformation Patterns of Airport Runway Surfaces Caused by Horizontal Directional Drilling Based on Ansys

This study investigates the impact of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology on the vertical surface deformations of airport runways, specifically in the context of airport lighting system renovations. Taking Guanghan Airport (China) as a case study, the research combines field experiments with finite element numerical simulations to analyze deformation patterns. The experiment involves drilling and grouting using a 10‐cm‐diameter HDD, and microdeformation monitoring radar is employed to collect real‐time data on vertical displacements along the construction path. A 3D runway model, consistent with the structural layers and dimensions of the experimental runway pavement surface and base course, was established in Ansys 2024 R2 for numerical simulation. Model reliability was validated against measured values. The results show that both root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) are below 0.2 mm, confirming the model’s high precision and robustness. It is found that at a drilling depth of 43 cm, the surface settlement is greatest near the drill head, reaching up to 0.855 mm, whereas grouting induces an uplifting effect of the runway surface with a maximum lift of 0.332 mm. Increasing the drilling depth significantly reduces the disturbance to the runway surface, with the settlement and uplift values decreasing as the depth increases. After construction, the maximum cumulative settlement is 0.331 mm, and the slope remains at 1%, complying with “Aerodrome Technical Standards.” The findings provide a theoretical basis for the design and deformation control in airport lighting renovation projects.