SIMULATING FROST ACTION BY USING AN INSTRUMENTED SOIL COLUMN

The use of an instrumented soil column in tests to develop a mathematical model of the frost-heave process is described. Tensiometers, heat-flow meters, thermocouples, and electrical resistivity gages were installed throughout a soil column filled with Fairbanks silt, Chena Hot Springs silt, or West Lebanon gravel. The column was 100 cm long and about 14 cm in diameter. An open system was used and absorption was monitored during the freezing process. Three freezing tests were conducted on Fairbanks silt, two with a surcharge of 3.45 kPa and one with 34.5 kPa. The water level was held at the 45-cm depth. Eleven tests were conducted using Chena Hot Springs silt. The water level was set at 15-, 50-, or 100-cm depths, and the surcharge was 3.45 or 34.5 kPa. Tests were conducted by using a constant rate of frost penetration, a constant heat-flow rate, or three sequentially lower temperature step changes at the soil surface. Two tests were conducted with West Lebanon gravel. Both included three step changes in the surface temperature and were surchrged with 3.45 kPa. The water levels were at the 15- and 100-cm depths. The soil column has provided critical data for verification of a one-dimensional mathematical model for estimating frost heave. As more soils are tested, this equipment will assist in improving and developing algorithms for the mathematical model and in identifying the most critical parameters that affect frost heave in a given soil--e.g., surcharge, free water level, and hydraulic conductivity. A procedure is also presented for determining the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and moisture-retention characteristics of a soil. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1981/809/809-006.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SIMULATING+FROST+ACTION+BY+USING+AN+INSTRUMENTED+SOIL+COLUMN&author=J.+Ingersoll&author=R.+Berg&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:
  • Ingersoll, J
  • Berg, R
• 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 34-42
• 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: Algorithms; Columns; Frost action; Instrumentation; Laboratory tests; Mathematical models; Permeability coefficient; Silts; Simulation; Soil tests; Soil water; Test procedures; Water table
• Uncontrolled Terms: Surcharge; Water retention
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00345292
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032504
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 29 1982 12:00AM