Modeling of Electrical Heating and Cooling for Carbon Textile Reinforced Concrete

Carbon-textile-reinforced concrete (CTRC) is increasingly being used in the construction industry as a high-performance composite material combining non-metallic textile reinforcement with concrete. Known for its exceptional characteristics such as tensile strength, density, and durability, CTRC also exhibits electrical conductivity, enabling efficient electrical heat generation within building components. This study develops and validates a thermal model to predict the temperature evolution of electrically heated CTRC, incorporating Newton's law of cooling and Joule's heating principle. The proposed model segments the temperature development into three distinct phases: heating, constant, and cooling. The temperature calculation accounts for these phases, their boundary conditions, and material-specific parameters, which were determined through laboratory experiments. For the investigated CTRC material combinations, the model accurately predicts temperature profiles, demonstrating strong agreement between experimental and calculated results. Moreover, significant variations in electrical power requirements were observed among the tested materials. The investigated impregnation materials of the carbon textile reinforcement (CTR) significantly influence contact quality and resulting temperature behavior. This research bridges material science and thermal performance, expanding the potential for CTRC use in electrically heated construction solutions.