PREVENTION OF PREFERENTIAL BRIDGE ICING USING HEAT PIPES

This report describes the efforts of the first half of a two year study to investigate using heat pipes to avoid the preferential freezing of highway bridge decks. The key parameters influencing the design of a preferential de-icing system using earth heat have been identified using computer analyses. Analysis for New York weather conditions has shown that a system using 2 inch diameter heat pipes installed 30 to 50 feet deep in the earth and converted to 1/2 inch diameter pipes on 6 inch centers in the bridge concrete deck can prevent preferential icing. The system is activated by temperature sensors in the bridge deck and adjacent roadway. Work is continuing to optimize the system and prepare a design manual.

• Corporate Authors:

  Grumman Aerospace Corp.

  Bethpage, NY  United States 

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Ferrara, A A
  • Haslett, R
• Publication Date: 1975-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 115 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Bridge design; Bridges; Deicing; Highway bridges; Icing; Structural design
• Old TRIS Terms: Preferential icing
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00094490
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-75-111 Intrm Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FH-11-8545
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 1978 12:00AM