Abstract
A series of tests for water transfer and ice accumulation were conducted under different soil types and conditions of water supply method, temperature gradient, and initial water content; the influence of the above parameters on the efficiency of water and vapor transfer was investigated and discussed. The main conclusions drawn are as follows. First, due to the difference in permeability for different soil type, water (i.e., liquid water and vapor) transfers differently. The water (or ice) accumulated in the soils of calcareous sand, silty soil in Lanzhou (SSL), red clay in Changsha, and silty soil in Hohhot (SSH) under the top plate is 34.5%, 21.0%, 11.33%, and 26.7%, respectively. In addition, the water (or ice) accumulation is determined by the holding capacity of water. Second, the supply method of liquid water is more efficiently compared with that of vapor supply, with the water contents increasing to 60.5% and 57.3% for liquid water and vapor supply. Third, the larger the temperature gradient, the greater the water accumulation in the frozen area. The increased amount of water mass under different temperature boundary conditions is 227.9 g, 253.3 g, and 273.8 g, respectively. Finally, the initial water content in silty soil has a significant influence on water and vapor transfer. The increased amounts of water for the tests of the initial water content of 5%, 10%, and 15% are 282.6 g, 253.3 g, and 132.5 g, respectively. The smaller the initial water content, the greater the water transfer in the unfrozen zone and vapor transfer in the frozen zone.
Highlights
The tests for water transfer and ice accumulation were conducted under different soil types and conditions of water supply method, temperature gradient, and initial water content; the influence of the above parameters on the efficiency of water transfer was investigated and discussed. e main conclusions are drawn: (1) Due to the difference in permeability of different soil type, the water is accumulated in the soils, including calcareous sand, silty soil in Lanzhou (SSL), red clay, and silty soil in Hohhot (SSH),differently under the top plate, with the water content being 34.5%, 21.0%, 11.33%, and 26.7%, respectively. e vapor transfers the most in sand sample and least in clay sample
(2) e supply method of liquid water in the silty soil can promote water transfer and ice accumulation. e increased water mass in five days is 106.1 g for the vapor supply method, which accounts for 66.7% of the initial water mass
The vapor supply method can provide water source for the water accumulation under the top plate, which cannot be ignored in practice
Summary
Experimental Study of Water Transfer and Ice Accumulation in Freezing Soils under Different Conditions. A series of tests for water transfer and ice accumulation were conducted under different soil types and conditions of water supply method, temperature gradient, and initial water content; the influence of the above parameters on the efficiency of water and vapor transfer was investigated and discussed. Zhang et al [11] developed an innovative test equipment and performed a series of vapor transfer tests for clay under the different initial water content and temperature conditions to investigate the occurring and developing mechanism of the “pot cover” effect. A series of one-dimensional water transfer tests regarding different soil types, water supply method, temperature gradient, and initial water content were performed using the proposed instrument. Erefore, to study the influence of water supply method on the water transfer in soil sample, the tests of different ground water table were conducted.
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