Study on the Shape of Freezing Front and Frost Heave Damage of C-Box Structure

Abstract

In Japan, the C-box (Culvert-box) is constructed to allow small rivers and other crossroad intersections to pass beneath roadways. In cold regions, it is reported that due to frost heave in the banking soil around the C-box, cracking damage may develop at the surface of the pavement. The mound-shaped frost heave at the upper part of the C-box may result in cracking on the side wall of C-box caused by the frost heaving force. The purpose of this study was to test and describe countermeasures for these frost heave damages. A 1/20 scale model bank containing a concrete C-box was constructed in a large freezing room. Under controlled room temperatures, the temperature in the banking soil and the shape of freezing front in the soil around the model C-box were measured.