Abstract
The damages resulting from frost heaving are the main causes of channel destruction in seasonal frozen soil regions. Over the years, many experimental studies have been performed regarding the channel anti-frost heaving in the Hetao irrigation area. However, there have been few experimental research studies conducted regarding the insulation and anti-frost heave effects of polystyrene boards (EPS) of different thicknesses. Therefore, in order to explore the insulation mechanism and anti-frost heave effects of precast EPS laid under the conditions of different thicknesses, an anti-frost heave test field was established in the Hetao irrigation area for the examination of the ground temperatures, frozen depths, frost heave amounts, and water content change rules. This study’s results showed that, for the laid EPS with thicknesses between 2 and 12 cm, the frost-heave reduction rate ranged from 53.2% to 92.6%; total accumulated temperature warming ranged from 248.65% to 565.93%; and the frozen depth reduction rate was between 59.8% and 75.9%. It was determined that the EPS per cm additions could effectively improve the ground temperatures at a buried depth of 30 cm by 0.78 °C, and reduce the frozen depth by 10.1 cm. Then, by comprehensively considering the positive economic and insulation effects, it was determined that the most appropriate thickness of the EPS laid under the precast concrete slabs in the Hetao irrigation area of Inner Mongolia was 8–10 cm.
Highlights
The Hetao irrigation area of Inner Mongolia has the characteristics of a temperate continental arid and semi-arid climate zone, where the winters tend to be long and cold, resulting in seasonal frozen soil
Change Rule of the Ground Temperatures under the Different effects of polystyrene boards (EPS) Thicknesses there were no significant effects observed in the frost heave amounts
Through observations of a complete freezing and thawing period, the observed data were analyzed in order to obtain the following main conclusions: (1) For the laid EPS with thicknesses ranging from 2 to 12 cm, the reduction rates of the frost heave were from 53.2% to 92.6%; the total accumulated temperature was between 248.65% and 565.93%; and the reduction rate of the frozen depths ranged from 59.8% to 75.9%
Summary
The Hetao irrigation area of Inner Mongolia has the characteristics of a temperate continental arid and semi-arid climate zone, where the winters tend to be long and cold, resulting in seasonal frozen soil. Using the statistics of the test field temperatures, foundation-based soil moisture content, and channel observation point displacements, the frozen depths, rigid lining layer deformations, and stress change factors of the channel bed were analyzed Zhang and He et al [27] established a standardized structure for channel anti-seepage, insulation, and anti-frost heaving, and determined their application conditions and scopes. Zhang and Wang et al [29] established a channel frost heave mechanics model which they combined with a finite element model They used an isotropic calculation to show that local normal frost heave forces existed in the upper shady-slope with a maximum value of 0.063 MPa. the forces in the sunny-slope were very small, and mainly distributed in the upper part with a maximum value of 0.04 MPa. Liu and Ning et al [30] believed that there was a relationship between the soil-ice elastic constants and those of the entire frozen soil mass at a certain temperature. The results of this study provided a scientific basis, demonstrations, and technical support for the future applications of EPS insulation boards with anti-seepage linings in the main channels of the Hetao irrigation area
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