Thermal–Structural Performance of Electrified Asphalt Pavements under Accelerated Loading

Wireless power transfer (WPT) has emerged as a viable solution to overcome key limitations in electric vehicle adoption, notably range anxiety and the constraints of plug-in charging. The integration of WPT systems into asphalt pavements requires overcoming challenges related to heat accumulation from electromagnetic losses and the viscoelastic nature of asphalt materials. This study presents an experimental work to simulate and evaluate the coupled thermal and mechanical behavior of asphalt pavements embedded with WPT components. Simulated thermal loading was applied using temperature-controlled heating pads, with temperature distribution monitored via embedded thermocouples and infrared imaging. Structural responses under dynamic loading were assessed using a Model Mobile Load Simulator 3, while strain in the asphalt layer was captured through distributed fiber optic sensing. An investigation of wheel wander effects was also carried out. Results show that a 10°C surface temperature increase raised maximum tensile strain by 35% to 90%, depending on the loading duration, and that lateral wheel wander can change peak tensile strains by up to one-third, highlighting the strong influence of thermal gradients and load positioning on pavement response. These findings provide important insight into the interaction between thermal effects and mechanical performance, supporting the design of durable and efficient electrified pavement systems.