The equivalent plasticity strain analysis of snow-melting heated pavement concrete exposed to inner elevated temperatures

•An optimal mix proportion of the concrete with high thermal conductivity was obtained.•A 3D finite element simulation was conducted to predict EPS based on CDP model.•The EPS of pavement concrete that exposed to inner elevated temperatures were analyzed.•Two EPS prediction models were proposed.•The verified experiment is conducted to validate the 3D finite element model. The equivalent plasticity strain (EPS) of snow-melting heated pavement concrete that exposed to inner elevated temperatures is analyzed with finite element simulations. An optimal mix proportion of the concrete with high thermal conductivity was obtained through mechanical and thermal experiments, which helps facilitate reducing the damage in snow-melting pavement. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element model is developed based on the concrete damage plastic (CDP) model with parameters. The EPS is considered as the performance evaluation index for damage in snow-melting heated pavement concrete. Based on the results of finite element simulations, the EPS of snow-melting heated pavement concrete that exposed to inner elevated temperatures was analyzed under different pavement structures and external conditions. Furthermore, two EPS prediction models were proposed: the one is for EPS and the inner elevated temperature, the other is for EPS and five key factors. The outputs of 3D finite element simulations were verified by an experiment result. It indicated that numerical results agreed with experimental results very well. A prediction and evaluation method of damage for snow-melting heated pavement concrete was established as well.