ATTENUATION OF FROST ACTION: SELECTED PROBLEMS

This study addressed selected problems associated with frost action, with the following specific objectives: 1) determination of objectionable differential heaving at culverts, 2) study of heat transfer in a culvert-soil system, 3) evaluation of four experimental thermally insulated culverts, and 4) investigation of several methods for transition from fully insulated to uninsulated pavement. First, a survey in northern New York revealed that most differential frost heaves were occurring at culverts, but that only one of every eight culverts was associated with such heaves. Second, in the case of one instrumented culvert, the pipe appeared to aid in thawing of frozen soil but did not greatly influence frost depth in the soil near it; however, a second instrumented but uninsulated culvert serving as a control significantly influenced both thawing and frost depth in soil near the pipe. Third, of the four insulated culverts, three completely covered with insulation were effective in minimizing the potential for differential frost heaving; a fourth, where a continuous layer of insulation was placed below the pipe, was ineffective because it allowed the frost line to be drawn down and restricted upward warming of the pipe. Fourth, based on an instrumented field test, the concept of a tapered insulation transistion appears valid in that it permits a gradual increase in frost penetration, which (theoretically) should decrease any abrupt change in vertical profile at the extremities of insulated pavements; varying the spacing of small strips of insulations was less effective. Finally, the concluding chapter documents the performance of several other transition sections, but because they were constructed before this study began and were not instrumented, no conclusions were drawn. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  New York State Department of Transportation

  Engineering Research and Development Bureau, 1220 Washington Avenue
  Albany, NY  United States  12232
• Authors:
  • Pyskadlo, R M
• Publication Date: 1977-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 52 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Culverts; Frost; Frost action; Frost heaving; Frost protection; Heat insulating materials; Heat transfer
• Uncontrolled Terms: Frost penetration
• Old TRIS Terms: Frost heave
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00157893
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: NYS-DOT-ERD-77-RR-39,, Final Report
• Contract Numbers: FCP 40 F3-144
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 27 2003 12:00AM