Preparation of carbon fiber conductive concrete and study on its mechanical and heating properties

Carbon fiber conductive concrete demonstrates great potential for effectively removing ice and snow from road surfaces. This study investigates the electrical conductivity and electromagnetic heating effects of carbon fiber conductive concrete, considering different carbon fiber dosages and temperatures. Experimental and numerical simulation methods were employed to assess the material's performance. The results show that as the carbon fiber content increases to 0.38% and 1.5%, the compressive strength decreases by 19% and 55%, respectively, which is related to the introduction of more bubbles and the agglomeration of carbon fiber when the carbon fiber is added, making it easier to produce stress concentration when the concrete is compressed. However, when the content of carbon fiber is small, the tensile properties of carbon fiber itself can improve the overall splitting tensile strength of concrete. With the increase of carbon fiber content, carbon fiber gradually forms a conductive network in the concrete, and the overall resistivity of the concrete decreases, but there is a certain threshold. Overall, 0.75% fiber is the best solution. In addition, the heating process is accurately simulated by numerical simulation method. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental results, showing that the heating rate decreases with the increase of energizing time until reaching the heat equilibrium state. And the precise temperature distribution and change process that can be obtained through simulation provides valuable insights for engineering design.