Mechanistic Analysis of Reflective Cracking Potential in Electrified Pavement with Inductive Charging System.

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Electrified pavements enable continuous wireless power transfer for electric vehicles (EVs) using inductive charging systems.
• Unique construction methods for electrified pavements lead to distinct mechanical and thermodynamic properties compared to traditional pavements.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the mechanistic design of electrified pavements to mitigate thermal-induced reflective cracking.
• Analyze the impact of concrete slabs with inductive charging units (CUs) on pavement structural integrity.

Main Methods:

• Developed finite element (FE) models to simulate temperature profiles, pavement responses, and crack potential.
• Utilized fatigue models and Paris' law to assess crack initiation and propagation in various pavement designs.

Main Results:

• Increasing asphalt surface layer thickness by 20 mm delays crack initiation and propagation, tripling cycles to reach a given crack length.
• Thicker concrete slabs (180 mm vs. 100 mm) increased cycles to failure by ~20%.
• Reducing slab width and length (joint spacing) effectively mitigated reflective cracking, with slab length being more influential.

Conclusions:

• Optimized asphalt layer thickness and concrete slab design are crucial for mitigating reflective cracking in electrified pavements.
• Balancing wireless charging efficiency with structural durability is essential for successful electrified pavement implementation.