Investigating microwave deicing efficiency in concrete pavement

Abstract

Microwave deicing is an intelligent and environmentally friendly method that overcomes the many shortfalls of traditional deicing methods, including mechanical, chemical and thermal techniques. In this paper, a robust method was investigated and the microwave deicing efficiency was defined as the temperature-rise rate of a concrete surface heated to 0 °C. The heating of a concrete surface covered with an ice layer using microwaves from a rectangular waveguide was explored numerically and experimentally. A microwave deicing simulation model was constructed on the basis of finite element theory. Laboratory experiments were then carried out using a self-designed microwave deicing apparatus. The effects of the microwave frequency and pavement material on the microwave deicing efficiency were examined. The results indicate that the microwave efficiency is closely linked with the microwave frequency and pavement material. Compared with the use of a frequency of 2.45 GHz, using 5.8 GHz radiation decreased the penetration depth to 45%, while the microwave deicing efficiency increased by more than fivefold. When black iron oxide was added into the concrete mortar at 10 wt% of the total cement content, the microwave efficiency increased by more than 1.8-fold. Furthermore, the validity of the simulation model based on finite element theory was verified by the consistent results obtained between the simulations and experiments. Moreover, these results could provide theoretical guidance for the future application of microwave deicing.