Development of a Thermal Fatigue Test to Assess eRoads
Résumé
This chapter introduces the development of a thermal fatigue test for electric roads (eRoads). A thermal fatigue test is a laboratory test aimed at assessing the behavior of eRoads under diurnal temperature variations. Its purpose is to evaluate the interface between the asphalt concrete and the charging system. In order to render this fatigue test viable for laboratory experimentation within a reasonable timeframe, it is conducted on eRoad samples under accelerated conditions. Prior research has played a role in establishing the current testing protocol, defining loading parameters and boundary conditions. The height of the spotlight simulating the sun, a key element in the setup, was determined based on tests at various elevations. A validation process was carried out by comparing the experimental results with thermal structural finite element method (FEM) simulations. This comparative analysis served to confirm the accuracy of the thermal constitutive model, the material parameters, the boundary specifications, and the loading conditions. The findings are not only applicable for the analysis and enhancement of eRoad designs at the field scale but also serve as a crucial validation mechanism, ensuring the precision of mechanical field values sensitive to temperature variations in the next thermo-viscoelastic (ThVE) analyses.