Cool Pavements: Harnessing Phase Change Materials to Beat the Heat by Prof. Bhagya Athukorallage

Cool Pavements: Harnessing Phase Change Materials to Beat the Heat by Prof. Bhagya Athukorallage, Williams College, Friday May 3, 1:00 – 1:50pm, North Science Building 015, Wachenheim, Faculty Seminar

Abstract:

The use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in asphalt pavement mixtures offers a potential solution for mitigating thermally-induced rutting in pavement systems. This study aims to investigate the influence of PCMs on heat transfer and maximum surface temperature in flexible pavement systems. Through simulations of flexible pavement structures with varying PCM volume fractions, we uncover that PCM-embedded pavements exhibit lower surface temperatures compared to those without PCM, with a maximum temperature decrease of 1.5°C for distributed PCM with a volume fraction of 30%. Furthermore, we observe a higher temperature drop through the PCM-embedded asphalt layer, leading to regions with temperatures below 45°C, potentially reducing thermally-induced rutting. Overall, this study provides insights into the efficacy of PCM incorporation in asphalt pavements for temperature regulation, offering valuable implications for enhancing pavement performance and longevity.

This talk is for colloquium credit.