Use of geosynthetics for performance enhancement of earth structures in cold regions

Abstract

Earth structures, such as roadways, embankments and slopes, and earth retaining walls, have been commonly used in cold regions for transportation and other applications. In addition to typical design considerations for earth structures at normal temperature, a design must also consider the unique problems associated with low temperature, such as frost heave, lateral expansion, thaw settlement and weakening, and degradation of material properties. Geosynthetics have been used in cold regions to stabilize earth structures during construction and mitigate potential problems during their service at low temperature. This paper provides a state of practice review of the use of geosynthetics for performance enhancement of earth structures in cold regions. This paper starts with basic information on available geosynthetic products and their functions, evaluates properties and behavior of geosynthetics and soil-geosynthetic systems at low temperature, and discusses past studies and their key results on the use of geosynthetics to enhance the performance of roadways, embankments, and earth retaining walls in cold regions. This review reveals that geosynthetics at low temperature have higher tensile strength and stiffness, lower creep rate, and lower elongation at failure. The effect of temperature becomes significant when nonwoven geotextiles are subjected to moistening and soil intrusion at subfreezing temperature. Freeze-thaw cycles may degrade hydraulic and mechanical properties of geosynthetic-soil systems. The inclusion of geosynthetics in soil provides drainage and/or barrier to water flow, retains mechanical properties, and reduces frost heave during and after freeze-thaw cycles. Effectiveness of geosynthetics has been confirmed in the field in bridging over voids, stabilizing roadways over temperature-susceptible soils during thaw, and proving drainage and barrier to temperature-susceptible soils before freeze. To avoid frost heave and lateral expansion of backfill in earth retaining walls, granular fill without fines should be used. When backfill with fines is used for earth retaining walls, additional lateral earth pressure induced by soil freeze and thaw settlement should be considered in the design.