Study of Temperature-Adjustment Asphalt Mixtures Based on Silica-Based Composite Phase Change Material and its Simulation

Abstract

In recent years, extreme temperatures have occurred frequently in summer, which is a challenge to asphalt pavement and its surrounding environment. Phase change materials (PCMs) have unique energy storage characteristics, which provides a new idea for alleviating the high-temperature damage of pavement and reducing the environment temperature. In this paper, the silica composite phase change materials (SiO 2 -PCMs) were prepared and applied for the temperature-adjusting asphalt pavement. And the finite element heat transfer model was established to predict and analyze the temperature-adjusting effect. SiO 2 -PCMs meet the mixing temperature requirements of asphalt mixtures and have excellent compatibility, thermal cycle stability and anti-leakage ability. PEG/SiO 2 features excellent cooling features which can reduce the upper surface temperature of the temperature-adjusting asphalt mixture by about 9 °C. The high unity of theory and experiment is implemented by establishing the heat transfer model. PCMs reduce the temperature of asphalt pavement by storing and transforming energy, which provides reference and theoretical support for improving the near-surface thermal environment and prolonging the service life of asphalt pavement.

Keywords: Phase change materials, Asphalt mixtures, thermal performance, Heat transfer model