Electrically conductive concrete: A laboratory-based investigation and numerical analysis approach

Abstract

In recent years, the application of electrically conductive concretes has been proposed as an anti-icing method on airport runways. In this work, it was aimed to evaluate usability of the nano carbon black obtained by the pyrolysis method from the waste tires and also the waste wire erosion obtained from the cutting processes for using in the electrically conductive concrete with application in airport runway anti-icing. In this regard, 36 different mixtures of the electrical conductive concretes were first investigated in the laboratory to find out general mechanical and electrical conductivity properties of the test concrete. After obtaining the result of their general characteristics, 10 different types of concrete slabs were produced. Electrothermal tests of conductive concrete slabs were carried out in a cooling chamber at −10 °C. A heat power within a range of 180–1315 W/m2 has been provided for heating electrically conductive concrete slabs obtained from different mixtures and consequently an optimization method was utilized and obtained results were compared on figures and diagrams. Numerical simulation of the problem has been also carried out to find out heat flux and temperature distribution of test concretes.