Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical modeling of frost heave and water migration during artificial freezing of soils for mineshaft sinking

Abstract

Artificial freezing of water-bearing soil layers composing a sedimentary deposit can induce frost heave and water migration that affect the natural stress–strain state of the soil layers and freezing process. In the present paper, a thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) model for freezing of water-saturated soil is proposed to study the effects of frost heave and water migration in frozen soils on the formation of a frozen wall and subsequent excavation activity for sinking a vertical shaft. The governing equations of the model are formulated relative to porosity, temperature, and displacement which are considered as primary variables. The relationship between temperature, pore water, and ice pressure in frozen soil is established by the Clausius–Clapeyron equation, whereas the interaction between the stress–strain behavior and changes in porosity and pore pressure is described with the poromechanics theory. Moreover, constitutive relations for additional mechanical deformation are incorporated to describe volumetric expansion of soil during freezing as well as creep strain of soil in the frozen state. The ability of the proposed model to capture the frost heave of frozen soil is demonstrated by a comparison between numerical results and experimental data given by a one-sided freezing test. Also to validate the model in other freezing conditions, a radial freezing experiment is performed. After the validation procedure, the model is applied to numerical simulation of artificial freezing of silt and sand layers for shaft sinking at Petrikov potash mine in Belarus. Comparison of calculated temperature with thermal monitoring data during active freezing stage is presented. Numerical analysis of deformation of unsupported sidewall of a shaft inside the frozen wall is conducted to account for the change in natural stress–strain state of soil layers induced by artificial freezing.