Numerical study on the effect of phase change materials on heat transfer in asphalt concrete

This work aims at exploring the impacts of phase change materials (PCMs) in asphalt pavement, particularly regarding their potential of minimizing high temperatures, responsible of the rutting failure in asphalt concrete pavement. For this purpose, we developed and validated a numerical model for the prediction of temperatures in asphalt pavement under real weather conditions, and accounting also for the presence of PCM in asphalt concrete pavement. The effects of PCM volume fraction in asphalt concrete were investigated by numerically simulating the thermal behavior of conventional asphalt concrete pavements with and without PCM components under real weather conditions. Parametric studies were additionally conducted to tailor the thermal behavior of asphalt concrete pavement (e.g. reducing surface temperature). Then, the effects of each thermal behavior modification on the mechanical properties of the asphalt concrete pavement were quantified, considering the complex modulus of bitumen and asphalt concrete. The developed numerical tool will help in future designs and optimizations of the thermal behavior of asphalt concrete with phase change materials with regards to real weather conditions.