Investigating the Frost Action in Soils: Fid-Bau Portal

Investigating the Frost Action in Soils

Wasif Naqvi, Mohammad / Sadiq, Md. Fyaz / Cetin, Bora / Uduebor, Micheal / Daniels, John

Frost heave creates systemic failures in roadways, buried pipelines, and cold storage facilities across the United States and around the world. Significant frost heaving may occur when the following three conditions are met: (1) there are sustained freezing conditions, (2) the soil is frost-susceptible (typically silt-sized), and (3) there is access to water. Under these conditions and depending on the temperature gradient pore water freezes into ice lenses that grow in the direction of heat loss, causing heave. When the temperature increases during the spring season, the ice melts inducing thaw settlement and causing a reduction in soil strength. The nature and extent of frost heave vary according to the availability of water, pore fluid composition, rate of heat loss, and soil type. Similarly, soil properties influence the rate at which water is attracted to a growing ice lens and the temperature at which ice formation occurs. Laboratory tests can discern the significance of freezing intensity and duration as well as soil properties, including mineralogy, grainsize distribution, and pore fluid. As part of a larger nationwide project, the current study evaluates the frost heave potential of soils collected from Alaska, Iowa, and North Carolina. Cylindrical soil samples were given free access to water and subjected to two freeze-thaw cycles. Total heaving, heave rate, temperature profile, frost penetration depth, and its rate were measured as a function of time. Water intake during testing was also measured. The results of the study showed that amount of silt and clay content in the soil have a direct effect on the frost heave phenomenon. Soils that have higher silt content and less clay content had higher heaving. It was determined that all the soils were highly frost susceptible and had high-heave rates up to 28.4 mm/day. The maximum frost penetration depth and frost penetration rate were 114 mm and 260 mm/day, respectively.