• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.393-399
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• 2022

The Segregation Potential (SP) is one of the most widely used predictors of frost heave in cold regions. Laboratory step-freezing tests determining a representative SP at the onset of the formation of the last ice lens (near the thermal steady state condition) can predict susceptibility to frost heave. Previous work has proposed empirical semi-log fitting for determination of the representative SP and applied it to several fine-grained soils, but considering only frost-susceptible soils. The presence of fines in coarse-grained soil affects frost susceptibility. Therefore, it is required to evaluate the applicability of the empirical semi-log fitting for both frost-susceptible and non-frost-susceptible soils with fines content. This paper reports laboratory frost heave tests for fines contents of 5%-70%. The frost susceptibility of soil mixtures composed of sand and silt was classified by the representative SP, and the suitability of the empirical semi-log fitting method was assessed. Combining semi-log fitting with simple laboratory frost heave testing using a temperature-controllable cell is shown to be suitable for both frost-susceptible and non-frost-susceptible soils. In addition, initially non-frost-susceptible soil became frost susceptible at a 10%-20% weight fraction of fines. This threshold fines content matched well with transitions in the engineering characteristics of both the unfrozen and frozen soil mixtures.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.21-27
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• 2024

Frost heave, a significant engineering aspect of frozen ground, leads to various damages in Korea during the winter. Both the United States and Japan, encompassing regions with frozen ground, have actively researched frost heave and possess standardized experimental methods. Particularly, the Japanese Geotechnical Society (JGS) has introduced a frost heave standard testing method, offering the advantage of relatively simple specimen preparation and experimental procedures. However, issues persist regarding the ambiguous engineering interpretation of frost heave test results and the lack of clear criteria for frost heave susceptibility assessment. This paper presents laboratory testing results following the JGS testing method on sand and silt mixtures using a triaxial temperature-controllable cell, and thoroughly analyzes the frost heave rate calculation process. Furthermore, it evaluates the applicability of frost heave susceptibility criteria proposed in the United States to frost heave rates based on the JGS testing method.