2026 Transportation Infrastructure Precast Workshop
Published April 14, 2026 | Version v1
Conference proceeding Open

Comprehensive Assessment of PCM-Integrated Cool Concrete Sidewalks: Thermal, Mechanical, and Field Performance

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon The University of Texas at San Antonio

Description

Urban Heat Island (UHI) conditions intensify urban warming, increasing cooling energy demand and

reducing outdoor comfort. This study evaluates microencapsulated organic paraffin phase change material

(PCM, MPCM28D) as a sand-replacement additive in rigid concrete pavement for sidewalk applications as

a scalable UHI mitigation strategy. Thermal characterization confirmed the material’s latent heat storage

capacity, while compressive strength tests assessed mechanical performance relative to Texas Department

of Transportation (TxDOT) sidewalk concrete requirements. Indoor testing under an 8-hour heating-cooling

cycle produced surface temperature reductions of up to 2–4 ÅãC for the 10% PCM mixture, and similar trends

were observed in 8-hour outdoor exposure tests, with a maximum reduction of 4 ÅãC. A Six-month sidewalk

pilot with one control slab and five cooling treatments ; 5% PCM, reflective finishes, and hybrid

configurations, showed the best cooling performance in slabs incorporating 2.5% PCM with diamond

grinding or sandblasting. These hybrid treatments provided the most stable temperature reductions, as

measured by the Monthly Cooling Benefit Index (MCBI). Overall, the results confirm that sandreplacement

PCM combined with surface enhancement is a viable approach for improving the thermal

performance of urban concrete pavements.

Files

Comprehensive Assessment of PCM-Integrated Cool Concrete Sidewalks-Thermal, Mechanical, and Field Performance.pdf

Files (3.9 MB)

Additional details

Related works

Is described by
Project deliverable: https://trans-ipic.illinois.edu/research (URL)

Funding

United States Department of Transportation
University Transportation Center program 69A3552348333

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