Design of Electrically Conductive Asphalt Pavement for Self-Deicing Applications in Cold Regions

Electrically conductive asphalt (ECA) pavements have emerged as a promising technology for deicing applications in cold regions. This innovative system comprises three key components: an electrically conductive asphalt layer, transverse steel electrodes, and an electrical power supply unit. The design of these components, effectively and economically, is crucial to achieving the desired deicing performance of asphalt pavements in extreme cold climates. This paper proposes a design approach for ECA pavements by determining the thermal power output required to raise and maintain the temperature of the pavement surface above the freezing point of water. Through a combination of experiments and finite element modeling, a design chart that recommends the required thermal power output for ECA pavements under ambient conditions in cold regions was developed. Based on the required thermal power output, the optimum design components of ECA pavements (thickness of the ECA layer and spacing of transverse steel electrodes) were determined.