EVALUATION OF A SELF-REFRIGERATED UNIT FOR FROST-HEAVE TESTING

The British Transport and Road Research Lalboratory (TRRL) frost-heave test, in which specimens are frozen from the top downward in an open system for 250h, is specified in terms of a cold room but is more often undertaken in a self-refrigerated unit (SRU). In both units the air temperature above the specimens is maintained at -17 deg C and the water bath at +4 deg C. The maximum permitted heave is 13 mm in England and 18 mm in Scotland. A comparative study involving six aggregates of 40-mm maximum size and covering a range of geological types and gradings was undertaken to establish whether the SRU should supersede the cold room as the preferred testing facility. Statistical analysis indicated tht the two units produced similar results within the working range. Therefore, in view of its operational advantages and more widespread use, the SRU should become the preferred testing facility. Some variations in the imposed temperature conditions were observed in both facilities. However, there appeared to be no relation between the heave of individual specimens and the mean top-surface temperature. It was concluded that the main cause of scatter was specimen variability and that improved methods of specimen preparation are more likely to reduce scatter than are refinements to the testing facility. A subsidiary analysis showed that in the TRRL test frost susceptibility can be assessed at least as well after 96 h as after 250 h. The possible use of a shorter test, with appropriate limits, is being considered by TRRL. (Author)

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1981/809/809-002.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EVALUATION+OF+A+SELF-REFRIGERATED+UNIT+FOR+FROST-HEAVE+TESTING&author=K.+Lomas&author=R.+JONES&publication_year=1981
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Frost Action. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Lomas, K J
  • JONES, R H
• Conference:
  • 60th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1981-1-12 to 1981-1-16
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 6-13
• Monograph Title: Frost action and risk assessment in soil mechanics
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 809
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Frost heaving; Frost susceptible soil; Performance tests; Refrigeration (Structures); Soil tests; Statistical analysis; Test procedures; Testing equipment
• Old TRIS Terms: Frost heave
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00345288
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032504
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 29 1982 12:00AM