A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Impact of Groundwater Flow on Permafrost Degradation and Transportation Infrastructure Stability
A major issue with infrastructure stability in northern regions is thermal degradation of the underlying permafrost. Thermal modeling using conductive heat transfer has indicated that permafrost stability below roadway embankments is greatly affected by the surface temperatures; thus, as climate warms permafrost degradation represents a major issue for the design and maintenance of embankments. Previous research projects have produced innovative designs to stabilize embankments over degrading permafrost, many of which have demonstrated long-term success. These studies, however, did not include the detrimental effects of groundwater interaction with the embankment and underlying soil. The overall goal of this research was to develop a relationship among groundwater flow, permafrost degradation, and embankment stability. To achieve this goal, we investigated the Alaska Highway test section (AHTS) near Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada, as this site is wellknown for the ongoing thermal degradation of the permafrost below the embankment, demonstrates significant groundwater flow, and is heavily instrumented from previous work. Our research included two summers of field work and laboratory testing, from which we determined the necessary input parameters for numerical simulations.
Impact of Groundwater Flow on Permafrost Degradation and Transportation Infrastructure Stability
A major issue with infrastructure stability in northern regions is thermal degradation of the underlying permafrost. Thermal modeling using conductive heat transfer has indicated that permafrost stability below roadway embankments is greatly affected by the surface temperatures; thus, as climate warms permafrost degradation represents a major issue for the design and maintenance of embankments. Previous research projects have produced innovative designs to stabilize embankments over degrading permafrost, many of which have demonstrated long-term success. These studies, however, did not include the detrimental effects of groundwater interaction with the embankment and underlying soil. The overall goal of this research was to develop a relationship among groundwater flow, permafrost degradation, and embankment stability. To achieve this goal, we investigated the Alaska Highway test section (AHTS) near Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada, as this site is wellknown for the ongoing thermal degradation of the permafrost below the embankment, demonstrates significant groundwater flow, and is heavily instrumented from previous work. Our research included two summers of field work and laboratory testing, from which we determined the necessary input parameters for numerical simulations.
Impact of Groundwater Flow on Permafrost Degradation and Transportation Infrastructure Stability
M. M. Darrow (author) / R. P. Daanen (author) / J. T. Zottola (author) / D. Fortier (author) / I. Degrandpre (author) / S. Veuille (author) / M. Sliger (author)
2013
141 pages
Report
No indication
English
Hydrology & Limnology , Snow, Ice, & Permafrost , Highway Engineering , Soil & Rock Mechanics , Ground water , Permafrost , Roads , Alaska , Climates , Design , Embankments , Heat transfer , Laboratory tests , Liquid flow , Maintenance , Soil stabilization , Surface temperatures , Thermal degradation , Transportation