Numerical Simulation of a Road Deicing System Based on Resistor Network

Abstract

This paper investigated the mechanism of resistor network for road deicing with finite element analysis. It also derived the differential equations and boundary conditions of a mathematical model during numerical analysis, applied load, achieved pavement and distribution temperatures, and observed the warming law within the structural layer at different power and environmental conditions. The temperature of the pavement and its structural layer was observed under the same experimental conditions with finite element analysis. Furthermore, the connecting network of the device was designed, and the temperature of the pavement and its structural layer obtained under the same experimental conditions with the finite element analysis. The experimental and numerical simulation results were in good agreement when compared, although a certain degree of error between the numerical simulation and experimental processes was found. Thus, finite element analysis and ANSYS were suitable for simulating the resistor network process of deicing, which is an unsteady heat conduction process. Results showed that this simulation provides a new method and basis for guiding the resistor network for road deicing engineering design and temperature control. The application prospects of this approach are broad.