Full-Scale Thermal and Mechanical Testing of Pavement With Embedded High-Power Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer Coil

This article describes an experimental setup for testing the thermal and mechanical performance of pavement that includes transmitter (tx) coils designed for high-power dynamic wireless power transfer (WPT). Two types of pavement test sections (rigid and flexible) are constructed within an accelerated pavement testing (APT) facility. Traffic simulation is carried out to examine the performance of the unit under realistic load conditions. The experimental results show a modest temperature rise due to the Joule loss of the coil. Strain measurements taken at various locations in the pavement are also reported, showing behavior consistent with that expected in the materials used.