Design and performance evaluation of an electrically heated concrete panel for sustainable winter maintenance

Abstract

This study focuses on developing an electrically heated concrete panel system incorporating carbon fiber (CF) and carbon nanotube (CNT) as electrical media. Properties of 8 different electrically conductive concrete mixtures, such as workability, air content, compressive strength, and electrical resistivity, were experimentally evaluated to find optimum mixture proportions. Subsequently, three laboratory specimens with different geometric designs were fabricated using a two-lift concrete placement scheme: a normal concrete (NC) layer at the bottom and a conductive concrete (CC) layer at the top. Conventional ribbed rebars were embedded as electrodes to supply electrical power. The electrical heating performance of the specimens was evaluated based on the temperature rise and thermal strain changes during the imposed heating cycles. The findings demonstrated the potential use of the developed electrical HPS for sustainable winter maintenance, which will contribute to advancing heated pavement technologies and minimize the environmental impact caused by traditional snow removal practices.

Keywords

• Electrical heating
• Heated pavement system
• Winter maintenance
• Carbon fiber
• Carbon nanotube