Frost heave model and frost heaving force analysis of permafrost tunnel based on segregated ice

Abstract

Bi-directional freezing occurs when a tunnel portal passes through an active layer in cold region, or when the tunnel passes through permafrost. The surrounding rock of tunnel portal is frozen by air inside of the tunnel and earth surface. The freezing-thawing cycle of permafrost tunnels is frozen by the permafrost and air inside the tunnel. To investigate the frost heave force on the lining of permafrost tunnels, and verify the layered segregation ice in the surrounding rock of these tunnels, a one-dimensional hydrothermal stress model of bi-directional freezing is established, so as to study the evolution law of segregated ice from the surrounding rock in permafrost tunnels based on the theory of hydro-thermal coupling and segregated ice. After that, based on the mechanical theory, a frost-heave elastic mechanical model including secondary lining, freeze–thaw zone, freezing zone and segregated ice is established. The results show that there is layered segregated ice in the surrounding rock after the lining of permafrost tunnel. The annual difference and the annual average temperature have a great influence on the thickness of segregated ice, while the influence of thermal conductivity is relatively small. The thickness of thawing cycle should be less than 5 m, so that the frost heaving force acting on the lining will not be too large. Good water plugging quality can decrease the thickness of segregated ice. The frost-heaving force acting on the lining increases as the thickness of segregated ice increases. When the thickness of segregated ice is 10 cm, the maximum frost heaving force generated on the lining of single-layer segregated ice is 1.39 times that of non-segregated ice. The frost-heaving force caused by the segregated ice should be considered to guarantee the safety of tunnel structure.