Effect of temperature gradients on water migration, frost heave and thaw-settlement of a clay during freezing-thaw process

ABSTRACT

During the freezing process, water migration is a decisive factor for the estimation of frost heave and thaw-settlements of fine and mixed-grain soils. One-dimensional freezing tests with and without a water supply were carried out. The influence of different temperature gradients of a saturated clay on parameters such as water intake, frost heave, and thaw-settlements is discussed here. A new approach is presented to describe the rate of water intake, which consists of three parameters. This study shows that all three parameters were influenced by the temperature gradient. This approach helps predict frost heave and thaw-settlement in cold regions.

KEYWORDS:

• Frost heave
• thaw-settlements
• ice lens
• ground freezing
• water migration

Acknowledgments

This publication represents a component of my doctoral (Dr rer. nat.) thesis in the Faculty of 09 – Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Management at the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany, according to the Doctorate Regulations of the Faculties of Natural Sciences: Faculty of 07 – Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography at the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany. It is a cooperative doctoral procedure between the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany, and the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany, via the cooperative doctoral platform of the Forschungscampus Mittelhessen (FCMH).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.