Search Results (26)

Seasonal freeze–thaw cycling progressively rearranges pores and propagates microcracks in silty clay, reducing the reliability of cold-region earthworks. This study evaluated a bio–polymer stabilization strategy combining microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) with anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) to improve mechanical performance and freeze–thaw durability. Six groups were prepared at identical moisture and compaction conditions: water, APAM, and four MICP–APAM groups with bacterial optical densities (OD600) of 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4. Unconfined compressive strength, unconsolidated-undrained triaxial compression, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and SEM, TG/DTG, XRD, and FTIR analyses were conducted before and after freeze–thaw cycling. The M1.0-APAM group showed the best overall performance, with UCS values of 1.35 MPa before cycling and 0.89 MPa after nine cycles, together with high shear resistance and ultrasonic velocity. Lower bacterial concentration provided insufficient cementation, whereas higher concentrations promoted non-uniform carbonate deposition, pore heterogeneity, and local stress concentration. Microstructural evidence indicated that OD600 ≈ 1.0 produced a relatively homogeneous network of fine carbonate clusters and polymer-associated films, with calcite formation supported by TG/DTG and XRD. The results show that MICP–APAM treatment enhances silty clay primarily through coordinated mineralization uniformity, pore refinement, and polymer bridging, providing a sustainable stabilization option for seasonally frozen soils. Full article

With the development of polar regions and the deepening utilization of cold region resources, a large number of infrastructure projects are continuously being carried out. The freezing temperature of unsaturated soil is a critical factor governing the freezing depth and stability of foundations in cold regions or seasons. Concurrently, the supercooling state of soil significantly influences the assessment of its phase composition and physico-mechanical properties. This study employed physical experiments, theoretical formulas, and numerical simulations to reveal the influencing factors and underlying mechanisms of supercooling characteristics in unsaturated soils under controlled low-rate continuous cooling conditions. The results demonstrate that a reduced temperature gradient between the sample surface and the ambient environment correlates with a lower supercooling limit temperature and an extended supercooling duration. An excessively high cooling rate suppresses the supercooling phenomenon in the sample core due to boundary effects. In contrast, neither the temperature difference nor the external cooling rate exhibit a negligible influence on the freezing temperature. Analysis of the temperature–time curves reveals that the freezing process of silty clay is more stable, exhibiting fewer stepwise temperature declines during the phase change plateau, whereas mudstone shows heightened sensitivity to variations in the thermal gradient. Compared to conventional thermocouple measurements, the proposed methodology achieves an optimal balance between temporal efficiency and measurement accuracy. It not only enhances experimental controllability and data reliability, but also provides more scientific theoretical support and technical pathways for predicting freezing depth, designing foundation thermal systems, and preventing frozen ground disasters in cold region engineering. Full article

Infrastructure development in permafrost regions continues to face growing challenges from frost heaves and thaw settlement. The traditional frost heave theory considers that soil freezing is caused by the migration of liquid water in the soil; however, existing engineering practice shows that the migration of water vapor during the freezing process cannot be neglected. Based on the hydrothermal–air migration theory of unsaturated soils and their frost heave mechanism, this study established a coupled hydrothermal–air frost heave model for unsaturated silty clay under unidirectional freezing conditions. The computational model was verified through indoor modelling tests. The entire process of water vapor migration, moisture accumulation, and condensation-induced ice formation in unsaturated silty clay was comprehensively reproduced by numerical simulation. The results showed that the moisture field is redistributed during the freezing process of unsaturated soil. The increase in volumetric ice content in the frozen zone is due mainly to the migration of water vapor. Liquid water and water vapor in the unfrozen zone migrate towards the freezing edge driven by the temperature gradient, where they accumulate, leading to a decrease in the unsaturated pore space and a decrease in the equivalent vapor content. This study’s results can provide theoretical support for frost damage prevention in unsaturated silty clay in permafrost regions. Full article

Freezing and thawing cycles significantly affect the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of soils, posing detrimental challenges for infrastructures in cold climates. This study develops and validates a coupled Thermal–Hydraulic–Mechanical (THM) model using COMSOL Multiphysics (Version 6.3) to demonstrate the complexities of vapor and water flux, heat transport, frost heave, and vertical stress build-up in unsaturated soils. The analysis focuses on fine sand, sandy clay, and silty clay by examining their varying susceptibilities to frost action. Silty clay generated the highest amount of frost heave and steepest vertical stress gradients due to its high-water retention and strong capillary forces. Fine sand, on the other hand, produced a minimal amount of frost heave and a polarized vertical stress distribution. The study also revealed that vapor flux is more noticeable in freezing fine sand, while silty clay produces the greatest water flux between the frozen and unfrozen zones. The study also assesses the impact of soil properties including the saturated hydraulic conductivity, the particle thermal conductivity, and particle heat capacity on the frost-induced phenomena. Findings show that reducing the saturated hydraulic conductivity has a greater impact on mitigating frost heave than other variations in thermal properties. Silty clay is most affected by these changes, particularly near the soil surface, while fine sand shows less noticeable responses. Full article

To investigate the slope instability caused by differential frost heaving mechanisms from the slope crest to the toe during frost heave processes, this study takes a typical silty clay slope in Xinjiang, China, as the research object. Through indoor triaxial consolidated undrained shear tests, eight sets of natural and frost-heaved specimens were prepared under confining pressure conditions ranging from 100 to 400 kPa. The geotechnical parameters of the soil in both natural and frost-heaved states were obtained, and a spatiotemporal thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled numerical model was established to reveal the dynamic evolution law of anchor rod axial forces and the frost heave response mechanism between the frame and slope soil. The analytical results indicate that (1) the frost heave process is influenced by slope boundaries, resulting in distinct spatial variations in the temperature field response across the slope surface—namely pronounced responses at the crest and toe but a weaker response in the mid-slope. (2) Under the coupled drive of the water potential gradient and gravitational potential gradient, the ice content in the toe area increases significantly, and the horizontal frost heave force exhibits exponential growth, reaching its peak value of 92 kPa at the toe in February. (3) During soil freezing, the reverse stress field generated by soil arching shows consistent temporal variation trends with the temperature field. Along the height of the soil arch, the intensity of the reverse frost heave force field displays a nonlinear distribution characteristic of initial strengthening followed by attenuation. (4) By analyzing the changes in anchor rod axial forces during frost heaving, it was found that axial forces during the frost heave period are approximately 1.3 times those under natural conditions, confirming the frost heave period as the most critical condition for frame anchor design. Furthermore, through comparative analysis with 12 months of on-site anchor rod axial force monitoring data, the reliability and accuracy of the numerical simulation model were validated. These research outcomes provide a theoretical basis for the design of frame anchor support systems in seasonally frozen regions. Full article

The physical and mechanical properties of the soil–structure interface under the freeze–thaw condition are complex, making empirical shear strength models poorly applicable. This study employs integrated machine learning algorithms to model the shear behavior of frozen–thawed silty clay and the structure interface. A series of direct shear tests have been conducted under high normal stress and freeze–thaw conditions using an improved direct shear test system (DRS-1). The test data obtained were used to train and validate a classification and regression tree (CART)-based integrated model. Through cross-validation, the model’s optimal hyperparameters were determined on the training set, and its performance was then verified on the test set. The results indicated that the proposed integrated learning models closely match the experimental data. The accuracy of the CART-based model on the training set is R² = 0.994, while the accuracy on the test set is R² = 0.763. High pressure and freeze–thaw temperature were identified as key factors influencing the trend of shear stress–strain curves. The CART-based model offers a scientific basis for predicting the shear behavior of the frozen–thawed soil–structure interface. Full article

In this paper, a comprehensive series of dynamic triaxial tests were conducted to delve into the influence of temperature and moisture content on the behavior of frozen silty clay. Upon scrutinizing the experimental outcomes under prolonged reciprocal cyclic loading, insights were gained into how varying temperatures and moisture contents impact the cumulative permanent strain (CPS) and critical dynamic stress (CDS) of frozen clay. The results show that the variation curves of CPS with the number of cyclic loadings show significant changes at different temperatures and moisture contents. Additionally, based on the assessment of vertical CPS recorded at the 100th and 1000th loading iterations, criteria for assessing the plastic stability and plastic creep threshold of frozen silty clay were devised. Consequently, an analysis was conducted to delineate the correlation between the variation in vertical cumulative strains and the dynamic stresses applied within the frozen clay, resulting in the formulation of a series of correlation curves. The relationship between the changes in CDS affected by different temperatures and water contents were analyzed. The CDS under the plastic stability and plastic creep limits showed a slowly increasing trend with decreasing temperatures and a slowly decreasing trend with increasing water contents. Full article

A modified plastic Burgers model considering cohesion decay is proposed for frozen soils. A series of triaxial compression and creep tests were conducted on a kind of frozen silty clay for obtaining the model parameters. According to typical triaxial creep strain curves with only a decaying creep stage, a deformation parameter calibration method for a plastic Burgers model is proposed, and the validity of the method was further verified. When the original plastic Burgers model was incorporated with a cohesion decay function, it was shown that the successive development process of frozen soil creep strain from the decaying to non-decaying stage could be described reasonably. The modified model is applicable to frozen ground engineering cases with non-decaying creep involved. Full article

Landslide damage to soil graben slopes in seasonal freezing zones is a crucial concern for highway slope safety, particularly in the northeast region of China where permafrost thawing is significant during the spring. The region has abundant seasonal permafrost and mostly comprises powdery clay soil that is susceptible to landslides due to persistent frost and thaw cycles. The collapse of a slope due to thawing and sliding not only disrupts highway operations but also generates lasting implications for environmental stability, economic resilience, and social well-being. By understanding and addressing the underlying mechanisms causing such events, we can directly contribute to the sustainable development of the region. Based on the Suihua–Beian highway graben slope landslide-management project, this paper establishes a three-dimensional finite element model of a seasonal permafrost slope using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.1 finite element numerical analysis software. Additionally, the PDE mathematical module of the software is redeveloped to perform hydrothermal-coupling calculations of seasonal permafrost slopes. The simulation results yielded the dynamic distribution characteristics of the temperature and seepage field on the slope during the F–T process. The mechanism behind the slope thawing and sliding was also unveiled. The findings provide crucial technical support for the rational analysis of slope stability, prevention of sliding, and effective control measures, establishing a direct linkage to the promotion of sustainable infrastructure development in the context of transportation and roadway engineering. Full article

The shear strength characteristics and weakening effect of soils under freeze–thaw (FT) cycling are the key problems that should be solved to ensure the integrity of infrastructure construction in seasonally frozen soil areas. Thus far, however, the research on the mechanism of strength deterioration resulting from microstructural changes induced by FT cycles remains insufficiently comprehensive. To investigate the deterioration characteristics of the shear strength of seasonally frozen soils in FT cycles, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted using compacted silty clay subjected to a maximum of five closed-system FT cycles. The stress–strain curve, secant module, shear strength, and microscopic structure were measured for specimens before and after the FT cycles. The stress–strain curves of the unfrozen and thawed specimens demonstrated a strain-hardening behavior, indicating an increase in resistance to deformation. Moreover, the shear strength and secant modulus of the unfrozen specimen surpassed those of the thawed specimen significantly. As the number of FT cycles increased, there was a gradual decline observed in the strength, stiffness, cohesive properties, and internal friction angle of the thawed specimen. The nuclear magnetic resonance technique was employed to interpret the experimental findings. It was demonstrated that the micro-pores undergo continuous enlargement and transformation into medium-sized and large-sized pores, leading to FT deterioration. Based on the experimental results, a modified Duncan–Chang model was developed to simulate the mechanical behavior of compacted silty clay while considering the influence of FT cycles. Full article

A hydrological–thermal coupling discrete element model depicting the unidirectional freezing process of unsaturated silty clay was developed in order to investigate the migration law of unfrozen water in unsaturated silty clay under unidirectional freezing circumstances. The model uses the contact heat transfer equation to calculate the heat transfer process while taking into account the latent heat of phase transition. To obtain the silty clay’s freezing characteristic curve, the model combines the unfrozen water content curve with the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. The water migration from the unfrozen zone to the frozen zone was calculated using Harlan’s model and the frozen fringe hypothesis. The discrete element application MatDEM 3.0 was used to incorporate the mathematical model for computation, and the output was compared to the result of indoor unidirectional freezing tests. The soil closest to the stable freezing front had the largest water content, according to the findings of numerical modeling and laboratory testing, and unfrozen water in the soil would move from the unfrozen zone to the frozen zone under the action of water potential difference. The results of laboratory tests and numerical simulations can accurately describe the temperature variation and water migration of soil during freezing, demonstrating the accuracy of the established discrete element model and proving the viability of the discrete element method in the study of frozen soil. Full article

Temperature is the fundamental variable used in artificial ground freezing (AGF) design to assess the frozen curtain’s state and carry out an analysis of its mechanical behavior. Therefore, it is important to appropriately understand the temperature variation in the soil during freezing and thawing throughout the construction process of AGF. In this paper, a soil physical state analysis model was established to obtain the one-dimensional distribution curve of the soil temperature field and the temperature variation curve of the soil with temporal, which can be used to explore the soil temperature characteristics during the construction of AGF, so as to scientifically evaluate the physical state of frozen soil and reduce the construction risk. The soil can be divided into three zones during the construction process of AGF, namely the frozen zone, the frozen fringe, and the unfrozen zone. Additionally, Hangzhou muddy silty clay was selected for the indoor model test to verify the correctness of the analytical model. The results show the following: (1) Due to the influence of the latent heat of the phase change, the physical state and temperature of the soil on both sides of the frozen fringe are not the same. It is not appropriate to use the same temperature index to judge whether the soil is frozen or thawed in the project. (2) For Hangzhou muddy silty clay, the freezing index is −1 °C, and the thawing index is 0.9 °C. The research results can provide some guidance for the judgment of the soil state during the AGF of subway cross passages. Full article

In the seasonally frozen soil regions of northern China, silty clay is widely used as a subgrade bed filler in heavy-haul railway construction. In this paper, the influence of freeze-thaw cycles on the dynamic strength properties (strength parameters and dynamic critical stress) of silty clay fillers before and after cement improvement was investigated by a series of dynamic triaxial tests under different confining pressure conditions, and the test results were quantified to analyze the improvement effects of cement improvement. The results show that cement modification can significantly improve the dynamic strength parameters (dynamic strength, dynamic strength index, and critical dynamic stress) of silty clay before and after freezing and thawing. The dynamic strength of cement-improved silty clay (CSC) was improved by 2.8 to 5.2 times compared to silty clay, and a high level of dynamic strength can be maintained after multiple freeze-thaw cycles. The dynamic cohesion was increased by 1.5 to 3 times and the dynamic internal friction angle was increased by 1.5 to 4 times. The attenuation rate of the critical dynamic stress of CSC with the number of freeze-thaw cycles was greater than that of the plain filler, while the relative lifting effect of the critical dynamic stress of the cement improvement was significant after three freeze-thaw cycles, and the maximum value was reached at a cycle number of three, with a relative increase of 2.5 times. A new index of critical dynamic stress attenuation of CSC for freeze-thaw cycles was introduced, which provides a useful reference for subgrade improvement and reinforcement along the silty clay railway in northern China. Full article

Frozen soils are widely distributed in the seismically active regions of northwest China. Under the background of global warming, the study of the dynamic characteristics of frozen soil is very significant for the sustainable development of engineering in cold regions. In this study, the silty clay in the Lanzhou area of northwest China is selected to investigate the dynamic characteristics and its influence factors by dynamic triaxial tests. Various influence factors were considered, including confining pressure, soil temperature, soil water content and loading frequency. The dynamic elastic modulus ratio and reference dynamic strain amplitude increase as confining pressure and soil temperature decrease, and they also increase as soil water content and loading frequency increase. With an increase in confining pressure, soil water content, loading frequency, and a decrease in soil temperature, the damping ratio decreases but the maximum dynamic elastic modulus increases. With an increase in dynamic strain amplitude, the dynamic elastic modulus ratio has a decreasing trend, while the damping ratio has an increasing trend. It was found that the dynamic behaviors are most sensitive to the soil temperature. In addition, the comprehensive influence effect of soil water content, confining pressure, soil temperature, and loading frequency on the maximum dynamic elastic modulus, maximum damping ratio, and reference dynamic strain amplitude of frozen silty clay are analyzed, and the quantitative relationships between them are established. The results can provide evidence for seismic design and safe operation and maintenance of infrastructure in cold regions. Full article

In the spring thawing season, the decrease in the strength of frozen soil caused by temperature may lead to slope instability. Therefore, researchers have studied the relationship between the temperature and strength of the freeze-thaw zone. However, previous studies have considered the impact of thawing temperature on the strength, but less research on shaping temperature. Therefore, direct shear tests were performed on specimens with different thawing temperatures (i.e., −5, −2 and 1 °C) and different water contents (i.e., 9, 16, and 23%) at different shaping temperatures (i.e., −2, −7 and −12 °C). The results indicated that: the stress-strain curves under different test conditions exhibited strain softening characteristics; shear strength and shear index decreased with increasing shaping temperature; the effect of cohesion on strength was greater than that of internal friction angle; the mechanical mechanism in the freeze-thaw zone was related to the unfrozen water content of the specimen. In addition, the grey correlation analysis showed that the water content had the greatest effect on the shear index, while the shaping temperature had the least effect on the shear index. The grey relational grade of shaping temperature was greater than 0.5, indicating that the effect of shaping temperature on strength was not negligible. Full article