Compression Constitutive Model and Elastic Durability Study of Active Snow-Melting Conductive Rubber Composites

This study introduced a novel active electric heating deicing rubber-based composite material, which needs to be placed under the asphalt layer for deicing and snow removal. In order to determine the feasibility of long-term application of composite materials in bridge deck pavement structures under the action of vehicle loads, the stress-strain curves of composite materials were studied through uniaxial compression tests, and the compressive constitutive model of composite materials was determined. The elastic durability of composites was studied by the freeze-thaw cycle test, high temperature cycle test, water immersion cycle test, and load cycle test. The results show that the composite material is linearly elastic at small strains (<0.3) and non-linear at large strains (>0.3). Under the action of different ambient temperatures, the high temperature has a greater effect on the elastic modulus of the composite material than the low temperature. During the freeze-thaw cycle test, high temperature cycle test, and water immersion cycle test, the elastic modulus of the composite material fluctuated and did not drop significantly. When the composite material is subjected to vehicle load fatigue in the bridge deck pavement structure, its elastic properties decrease but the decrease is small, which can ensure the deformation stability of the composite material under vehicle load. It is proved that the composite material has good mechanical durability in the road environment under vehicle load. This research provides the mechanical basis for the application of conductive rubber composites in active snow melting pavements. (c) 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.