Phase Change Material in Concrete Pavement: Impact on the Mechanical Properties for Cold Regions

Abstract

Pavement used in roadways is highly deteriorated in cold regions due to the use of de-icing chemicals, which have a negative impact on the environment. Researchers have been exploring new technologies to prevent cold weather-related weakening of concrete pavement and achieve environmental sustainability. This paper evaluates the possibility of incorporating oil Phase Change Material (PCM) in concrete pavement to decrease its structural deterioration and reduce the cost of maintenance and impact on the environment. For this purpose, several concrete mixtures were designed by incorporating a certain percentage of PCM by weight in the mix: 1% and 2% of PCM. The mechanical properties of PCM infused concrete are compared to those of traditional concrete pavement. The results for both mixes show some decrease in workability while almost a similar behavior is observed for the compressive and flexural strengths. The mix with 1% PCM shows better efficiency with respect to the life cycle of the pavement.