## 1 Introduction
However, the structural integrity also must be taken into account when considering PSC, as damage to the pipes will result in the reduction in pipe spacing as well as pipe depth [6]. When heat pipes are integrated into a pavement system, it drastically alters the system's mechanical, thermal, and coupling response. According to the results by [PERSON] et al. (2013), the bending zone around the heat pipe is the most vulnerable region of the pavement [11]. As a structural member of pavement is loaded, it is susceptible to a wide variety of damages at any point in the loading process [12]. This is due to the fact that when subjected to fatigue loads, the strength and durability of concrete paving deteriorate dynamically. Results also show that the concrete pavement's bending strength responded differently depending on the stress ratio, initially increasing before falling at a stress ratio of 0.5 and then persistently declining at a stress ratio of 0.8 [13]. According to a review of the literature, little research has been conducted on the effects of traffic load factors and pipe system configuration on concrete pavement performance. Due to the limited studies of solar energy harvesting from concrete pavement being conducted and the rise in the usage of concrete pavements to date, it is necessary to investigate and determine the factors that affect harvesting of the highest energy by focusing on the integral piping variables for concrete pavement (spacing between pipes and depth of pipes from the surface). Recent trends in PCS research employing asphalt and concrete are displayed in Table 1. Table 1 demonstrates that multiple investigations have been carried out on the utilization of asphalt for PVC, whereas only a single research study has been conducted on concrete material. No extensive studies have been conducted on the feasibility of using concrete as a pavement solar collector in paved areas. Frequent high traffic loads are a primary contributor to pavement failure, with the extent of damage being contingent upon the characteristics of the vehicle and the number of axles present. These issues cause high maintenance costs over the years and if not properly addressed can lead to loss of lives. In comparison with asphalt, concrete pavements have many advantages, including lower life cycle costs, greater resistance to wear, longer lifespan, reduced environmental impact, and easier management of maintenance and repairs [20]. In addition, concrete pavements are commonly utilized in high-load-bearing applications, such as highways, airports, and bridge decks, due to their durability and ability to provide long-lasting solutions [21]. In this study, the load of a vehicle with a single axle will be applied. Since most of the existing studies focused on asphalt pavement and the fatigue that occurs due to the impact of loads, this study evaluates the effect of loads on the concrete pavement when it is used as a solar collector. In addition, we assess the impact of traffic loads on the sustainability of paving and harvesting the highest energy by adopting the variables of depth and distance between energy collection pipes. The modeling set-up is initially validated with [PERSON] et al. [6]. Once validated, the model investigates the pipe outlet temperature by varying the pipe spacing and depth. This study also assesses the effect of traffic load on a concrete pavement surface and the effect of traffic load on embedded pipes with different spacing and depths. The research contributes to optimizing the pipe spacing and depth that results in a high outlet temperature and suggests the optimal pipe configuration in terms of pipe spacing and depth to withstand the traffic load for a solar concrete pavement collector.