Modeling soil freeze-thaw and ice effect on canal bank

Abstract

The experiments for modeling soil freeze-thaw and ice action on canal banks were conducted in a laboratory. In addition to the frost heave that was observed during the period of soil freezing, there was an abrupt increase in frost heave that occurred at the beginning of soil thawing. This phenomenon lasted for over approximately 100 hours, and the frost heave induced during this period reached as much as 22.62 mm. At the same time, peak ice pressures also occurred as the soil was thawing. It has been suggested that the frost heave during initial soil thawing may be associated with the change in energy status at the water-ice interface resulting from the buildup of internal stress in the soil during the formation of ice lenses.Key words: frozen soil, freeze-thaw cycle, frost heave, thawing settlement, canal protection.