Finite element analysis and design of electrically conductive concrete for roadway deicing or snow-melting system

The application problems of electrically conductive concrete in a deicing or snow-melting system have been the research focus of roadway transportation engineering in recent years. When a deicing or snow-melting system is working in practical situations, it may encounter many special problems. In this paper by employing the finite element method, the relationship between the thermal conductivity of the electrically conductive concrete and the time of deicing, the effect of input power on the time of deicing, and the difference between deicing and the snow-melting is analyzed. The influence of wind on the time of deicing and the difference between the model with and without heat insulation layer are also studied. In addition, the power consumption analysis and relevant process design in dynamic snow-melting are also conducted. These computations and process design can play an important role in the design and application of deicing or snow-melting systems.