Impact of Pavement Thickness on Surface Diurnal Temperatures

Simulations of pavement surface temperature were carried out using a one-dimensional mathematical model developed previously based on a fundamental energy balance. By altering the parameters input to the model, an analysis was conducted to study the effects on the diurnal pavement temperatures caused by varying paving material and thicknesses. Such study offers an understanding of the optimum thicknesses for the materials to yield cooler surface temperatures by reducing heat absorption. This model can assist in determining appropriate mitigation strategies for the Urban Heat Island effect and human discomfort. The results indicated that there exists a critical layer thickness at which the maximum surface temperature is minimized. Further increase beyond the critical thickness results in adverse maximum and minimum surface temperatures. The study also shows that high albedo concrete cement surfaces have cooler surface temperatures as compared to lower-albedo asphalt-based surface pavements.