Skip to main content
Article
Electrical Resistance Heating of Conductive Concrete Containing Steel Fibers and Shavings
ACI Materials Journal
  • Christopher Y. Tuan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2004
Abstract

Conductive concrete is a category of concrete containing electrically conductive components to attain stable and high electrical conductivity. Due to its electrical resistance and impedance, a thin conductive concrete overlay can generate enough heat to prevent ice formation on a bridge deck when connected to a power source. Steel fibers and steel shavings were used for the conductive materials in this study. A conventional concrete slab, 1.2 x 3.6 m (4 x 12 ft), has been constructed with a 9 cm (3.5 in.) conductive concrete overlay for conducting deicing experiments in the natural environment. The conductive concrete mixture was developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln specifically for bridge deck deicing. Anti-icing and deicing experiments were conducted in five snowstorms. The average power density of approximately 590 W/m2 (55 W/ft2) was delivered to the conductive concrete overlay to prevent snow accumulation and ice formation. The experiment setup, energy consumption, and costs during the winter storms of 1998 are presented. A coupled thermal-electric finite element analysis was conducted to study the joule heating of the conductive concrete overlay. The numerical results showed that the model served as a useful tool for predicting the heating performance of the conductive concrete overlay.

Citation Information
Christopher Y. Tuan. "Electrical Resistance Heating of Conductive Concrete Containing Steel Fibers and Shavings" ACI Materials Journal Vol. 269 Iss. 5 (2004) p. 1083 - 1098
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christopher_tuan/19/