Fundamental Study for Development of an Anti-Icing Pavement System Using Carbon-Fiber Sheet

Abstract

PURPOSES : This paper aims to develop a road pavement de-icing system using carbon sheet to replace the older snow de-icing method. Carbon sheet is a light and high-strength metal. Hence, various bodies of research for its applications in many industries have progressed. METHODS : The experiment was conducted in a laboratory. The carbon sheet supplied voltage through a power supply system, and produced heat transfers to the concrete surface. Various factors, such as pavement material, carbon sheet width, penetration depth, and freezing-thawing resistance, were considered in the conducted experiments to confirm the heating transfer efficiency of the carbon sheet. RESULTS : The carbon sheet used was a conductor. Therefore, it produced heat if voltage was supplied. The exposed carbon sheet on the atmosphere did not affect the carbon sheet width when it provided constant voltage. However, the sheet showed different heating behaviors by width change when the carbon sheet penetrated into the concrete. Moreover, the freezing-thawing resistance was decreased by the carbon sheet with increasing width. CONCLUSIONS : The experiments confirmed the possibility of developing a road snow melting system using a carbon sheet. The antiicing system using the carbon sheet to replace the traditional anti-icing system has disadvantages of environmental pollution risk and electric leakage. The pavement also improved its toughness resistance. The utilization value will be very high in the future if carbon sheet heat loss can be minimized and durability is improved.