When an arctic blast swept through Fort Worth, Texas in January 2024, temperatures dropped to 12º F. While many bridges closed due to icy conditions, one bridge remained completely ice-free thanks to new groundbreaking technology developed by researchers across Texas — geothermally heated bridges.
A geothermally heated bridge system offers a more sustainable, environmentally friendly, energy efficient and cost-effective way to ensure bridges remain ice-free during Texas freezes. In addition, this technology could lead to safer driving conditions during harsh winter storms, reducing accidents and fatalities.
This research initiative is a cross-university collaboration between Dr. Anand Puppala, professor in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, A.P. & Florence Wiley Chair, and director of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal and A.P. & Florence Wiley Chair at Texas A&M University, and Dr. Puneet Bhaskar, postdoctoral associate, and Aditya Deshmukh, doctoral student, from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Dr. Xinbao Yu, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) leads the project as the principal investigator. He is accompanied by Dr. Gang Lei, a postdoctoral research associate, and Alireza Fakhrabadi, a doctoral student, from UTA.
This research project is funded by the Texas Department of Transportation.
A geothermally heated bridge system offers a more sustainable, environmentally friendly, energy efficient and cost-effective way to ensure bridges remain ice-free during Texas freezes.
The project tested the feasibility of an externally heated bridge system integrated into an in-service bridge. The team developed the system by focusing on three tasks: reviewing geothermal energy systems, developing laboratory-to-field-scale geothermal systems, and testing under full-scale conditions.
The research team developed a field-scale concept of the system on a mockup-scale bridge deck constructed in Arlington in 2017. The system performed well over the years, especially in keeping the mockup bridge ice-free during Storm Uri in 2021.
After the success of these endeavors, the team adapted the technology for testing on the bridge in Fort Worth. Despite the bridge’s flat slab having an approximately 21-inch-thick deck, the heated deck showed no evidence of snow or ice accumulation in the icy winter weather conditions.
The geothermal heating system is compatible with most concrete bridges. It works best when applied to new bridge construction since harnessing geothermal energy can be built as a part of the bridge’s foundation system.
The research team is looking at several other ideas to improve the process of deicing, including geothermal foundations, deicing fluid, pipe material and insulation systems that could be placed below the slab. Additionally, they will continue optimizing the geothermal heating system to reduce installation and operation costs, while also making it adaptable to a broader range of bridge types.