FROST HEAVING RATE OF SILTY SOILS AS A FUNCTION OF PORE SIZE DISTRIBUTION

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of frost heave to pore size distribution of compacted silty soils, and to propose that frost susceptibility criteria based upon texture and grain size. Rapid freezing laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the heaving rate. The soils were compacted at different energy levels and water contents, and consisted of three different combinations of silt and kaolin. Mercury intrusion tests were performed to obtain the pore size distributions of the compacted soils. Since this procedure requires the soil to be free of moisture, the soil samples were freeze dried. This type of driving almost eliminated the volume change and structural modification expected from air or over drying. The relation of frost heave to pore size was obtained using the method of linear regression.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Report on the Effects of Pore Size Distribution on Permeability and Frost Susceptibility of Selected Sub-Grade Materials. Sponsored in part by Indiana State Highway Commission, Indianapolis.
• Corporate Authors:

  Purdue University/Indiana Department of Transportation JHRP

  Purdue University, School of Civil Engineering
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907-1284
• Authors:
  • Reed, M A
• Publication Date: 1977-9-7

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 116 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay; Compaction; Drying; Freezing; Frost heaving; Grain size (Geology); Kaolin; Laboratory tests; Mathematical analysis; Moisture content; Pore size distribution; Silts; Soil mechanics; Soil tests; Texture
• Old TRIS Terms: Frost heave
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00172876
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/M-0455 Intrm Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: 1(15) Part II
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 12 1978 12:00AM