Development and Performance Evaluation of an Electrically Conductive Concrete Sidewalk Block System Using Solar Power and IoT Sensor Technologies
Please login to view abstract download link
Accumulation of snow and ice on sidewalks during winter increases the risk of pedestrian accidents. However, the use of conventional deicers can lead to surface damage on sidewalks and raise environmental issues, such as water and soil pollution. This study developed electrically conductive concrete (ECON) sidewalk blocks using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and carbon fiber (CF) as conductive materials, and proposed a self-heating monitoring system using a building-integrated solar power generation system and Internet of Things (IoT) sensor technology. The ECON sidewalk block is designed as a double-layer structure consisting of normal concrete in the lower layer (LL) and conductive concrete in the upper layer (UL). Stainless steel mesh electrodes embedded in the UL are connected to an external power supply and generate heat through Joule heating when current flows. The material properties of ECON sidewalk blocks were evaluated through flexural strength and water absorption tests, and the self-heating performance was evaluated by measuring the temperature of the sidewalk blocks in a low-temperature environment (-20℃) of a controlled freezer. In particular, when the temperature reaches a preset threshold (e.g., -2°C), an alarm message is automatically sent to the user or manager terminal (smart phone, PC, etc.). As a result of the test, the developed ECON sidewalk block secured a flexural strength of at least 4.5 MPa and an absorption rate of less than 7%, meeting the current quality standards. This system demonstrated its applicability as a multi-functional, eco-friendly pavement system that can not only monitor the heating temperatures of sidewalk blocks in real time, but can also perform structural functions. Accordingly, this study confirmed that it is a new system that can simultaneously realize sustainability and smart sidewalk infrastructure using solar power generation and IoT sensor technology.