Laboratory Testing Methodology to Investigate the Influence of Moisture Availability on Frost Heave
Loading...
Authors
Silins, Caroline Meghan
Date
2025-01-09
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Frost heave , Frost susceptibility , Cold regions laboratory testing , Void ratio , Moisture content , Heave rate , Ice lens
Alternative Title
Abstract
Seasonal frost heave impacts critical infrastructure in northern regions and creates design challenges for engineers. It occurs where there is simultaneously a frost susceptible soil, cold temperatures, and a ready supply of water. About 40% of Canada’s landmass is permafrost and, with northern infrastructure designed for specific environmental conditions, it is expected that climate change will create unique challenges (Palko & Lemmen, 2017) (Government of Canada, 2019). One of these changes will be the moisture availability over the life of a project. Frost heave theories and mechanics have been well established; however, there has been little experimental research done to assess the effects of variable moisture conditions on a fine-grained soil during freezing. This thesis builds on the laboratory testing methodologies for one dimensional freezing completed by others and explores moisture availability conditions during three laboratory freezing experiments on an artificially created frost susceptible soil