Discrete element analysis of heating transfer characteristics of airport pavements by using electro thermal method for snow melting and deicing

Abstract

This study presents a discrete element investigation on the internal temperature change characteristic and heat transfer efficiency in airport concrete pavement by using the carbon fiber electrothermal method for snow melting and deicing. A discrete element model for snow melting and deicing of airport concrete pavement by using the carbon fiber electrothermal method was generated. The temperature evolution on the surface of the pavement was captured and compared with the indoor experimental results. The numerical simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results, which verified the applicability of the numerical model. On this basis, the effects of the heating temperature and heating paths on the internal heat conduction and temperature field distribution were investigated. The results showed that the temperature of the pavement surface and the temperature rise gradient are linearly related to the temperature of the carbon fiber heating wire. The initial heating time has little influence on the temperature rise path of the road surface layer after stopping heating and reheating. The temperature of the road surface layer rises slowly after the heating is stopped, and then decreases linearly at a rate of 0.4 °C/h not corresponding to the initial heating time.

Keywords

• Road engineering
• Discrete element method
• Heat conduction
• Carbon fiber heating wire
• Snow melting and icing