Iowa State University (ISU) team of engineers wants to use heated pavements to make travel safer. They are working to develop and test heated pavement technology, which they believe could help Iowa’s roadways. “A lot of pavement research is trying something and seeing how it performs,” said Chris Brakke, Iowa Department of Transportation (IowaDOT). The “test slabs” set up at the Des Moines International Airport have actually melted snow and ice, and have carried traffic in tests such as semis.
“This project is on a much bigger scale and can be used on other highway projects, rest areas or other large-scale applications,” said Sunghwan Kim, Iowa State Assistant Scientist.
Halil Ceylan, Professor-Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, ISU and ISCP Member, discussed this method in a video. (Please see video link below). He explained in the video, “Concrete slabs generate heat on top to help melt ice and snow. These have conductive agents on top of the slabs, and we have stainless steel electrodes, so when we turn the system on, it starts generating heat on top of the slabs, helping us to melt ice and snow. So that we can keep these systems open and accessible during winter weather events.”
To make this an economic construction, we have 2 layers of concrete:
- Bottom layer is 7″ of regular concrete: Students attached stainless steel electrodes to the base layer
- Top layer is 3″ of electrically conductive concrete
“We were able to work with local concrete company and local contractors who were able to construct this successfully without any prior training. This shows that it can actually be implemented in any place.”
“This system is working really well, and when we turn on all of the slabs, we can see the heating taking place and we can look at the thermal imaging system. You can see the red heated areas versus the blue cold-controlled areas. We were able to successfully melt the snow away, and you can see steam coming out of the slabs and heated pavement systems. There are actually a very good number of applications for heated slabs—sidewalks with a lot of human traffic, bridge decks, airports … The best way to run the systems is to turn it on an hour in advance of a snow and ice event so that there will be no accumulation of snow and ice particles.”
Professor Ceylan concluded, “One of the biggest advantages of this technology is environmental benefits in addition to the safety. We are eliminating the use of harmful de-icing chemicals and providing a safe platform for the traveling public—the ultimate goal for us!”
For the ISCP article/coinciding VIDEO, please go to: https://www.concretepavements.org/2019/03/22/video-isu-team-uses-heated-pavements-to-make-travel-safer/
For the We Are IOWA.com article titled “ISU testing heated pavements with Iowa DOT”, please go to: https://www.weareiowa.com/news/local-news/isu-testing-heated-pavements-with-iowa-%20dot/1849323838
For 4 additional ISCP articles on heated pavements, please go to:
1 –“Conductive, De-icing Concrete Improves Safety & Efficiency for Roadways, Airports & Homes”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2016/04/18/conductive-de-icing-concrete-improves-safety-efficiency-for-roadways-airports-homes/
2 -“1st Full-Scale Heated Pavement Slabs Installed at American International Airport”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2017/03/30/1st-full-scale-heated-pavement-technology-installed-at-american-international-airport/
3 –“Wax On, Melt Off—Adding Paraffin to Concrete Can Help Roads Clear Themselves in The Winter”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2017/09/19/wax-on-melt-off-adding-paraffin-to-concrete-can-help-roads-clear-themselves-in-the-winter/
4 –“Shovels Nor Plows Needed: Special Concrete Could Melt Mounds of Snow”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2016/01/27/shovels-nor-plows-needed-special-concrete-could-melt-mounds-of-snow/