ICE-DETECTOR SYSTEM CAN PROTECT BRIDGES AND RUNWAYS

A NEW ICE-DETECTION SYSTEMS WARNS OF SLIPPERY, ICY CONDITIONS BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY OCCUR. THE SYSTEM HAD BEEN EVALUATED BY THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS ON THE I-75 FLINT RIVER BRIDGE. IT INCORPORATES HUMIDITY-TRANSDUCING ELEMENTS FOR DETECING FROST OR ICE CONDITIONS BEFORE THEY FORM DURING THE PRESENCE OF HIGH HUMIDITY AND LOW BRIDGE, HIGHWAY OR RUNWAY DECK TEMPERATURES, AND SEPARATE SENSORS SENSING ICE FORMATIONS RESULTING FROM PRECIPITATION. BY COMPARING THE DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURES, THE SYSTEM PREDICTS WHEN FROST WILL APPEAR ON SURFACES. BY SETTING THE ELECTRONIC LOGIC TO TAKE ACTION WHEN THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY- TO-SATURATION DIFFERENTIAL IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE DECK- TO-AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL, FROST CAN BE ANTICIPATED BEFORE IT FORMS AND AN OUTPUT SIGNAL WILL ACTUATE A WARNING OR DE-ICING SYSTEM. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 83, No 12, PP 76-77
• Publication Date: 1968-12

Media Info

• Serial:
  • American City

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Deicing; Detectors; Electronic equipment; Humidity; Ice; Icing; Pavements; Sensors; Slipperiness; Temperature; Warning systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Electronic devices; Highway pavement; Precipitation
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00216780
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 2 1994 12:00AM