A practical method for predicting ground surface deformation induced by the artificial ground freezing method

Abstract

The Artificial ground freezing (AGF) method is a reliable and environmentally friendly technique used for ground improvement to address adverse geotechnical conditions, and it has been widely used in the civil engineering field. However, frost heave and thaw settlement during the freeze–thaw process is inevitable, and excessive deformation can potentially result in uneven uplift or subsidence on the ground, which poses a significant threat to the safety of existing buildings and structures. Therefore, the prediction and control of ground surface deformation induced by AGF construction has becoming a trending issue in both academic and engineering fields. In this report, a practical method was proposed by combining the advantages of laboratory testing and numerical simulation. This method can be used to simulate and predict the ground surface deformation during the entire AGF construction process. Moreover, the solution procedure is simplified and more practically applicable compared with existing methods, and the prediction accuracy remains at a high level. This method was further verified by comparing the calculation results with the field monitoring data. Furthermore, based on the verified method, the effects of several sensitive parameters were investigated. Last, from the perspective of deformation prevention and control, several beneficial conclusions were drawn.