Exploring the Use of Geothermal Piles as an Environmentally Sustainable Method to De-Ice Bridge Decks through Field-Scale Experiment
Publication: Geo-Congress 2024
ABSTRACT
This study explores the application of a geothermal deicing system as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method of reducing the dangers and hazards caused by frozen roadways during the winter season. The existing snow removal method of using chemical solutions and salts not only has significant environmental consequences but also degrades roadway surfaces. Concrete is also subject to freeze-thaw cycles, which can eventually lead to deterioration, and the life span of the concrete pavement can be shortened significantly. This study investigated the efficacy of a geothermal system that uses only geothermal energy to de-ice bridge decks. Two demo bridge decks were built with embedded heat exchanger tubes connected to geothermal boreholes. The experimental results showed that the shallow geothermal system helps heating and deicing the pavement’s surface. The temperature inside and on the surface of the demo bridge decks remained less fluctuated during the winter, which helped to reduce the risks associated with freeze-thaw cycles.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Geo-Congress 2024
Pages: 751 - 759
History
Published online: Feb 22, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bridge decks
- Climates
- Cold regions engineering
- Concrete pavements
- Decks
- Deicing
- Energy engineering
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Freeze and thaw
- Highway and road management
- Highway transportation
- Highways and roads
- Ice
- Infrastructure
- Measurement (by type)
- Pavements
- Renewable energy
- Seasonal variations
- Structural engineering
- Structural systems
- Temperature effects
- Temperature measurement
- Thermal power
- Transportation engineering
- Winter
Authors
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