Formation and growth of multiple, distinct ice lenses in frost heave

This paper presents a fully coupled thermo‐hydro‐mechanical (THM) model which simulates frost heave in fully saturated soils. The model is able to simulate the formation and growth of multiple distinct ice lenses. The basic equations of the system were derived using the continuum theory of mixtures,...

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Published inInternational journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 82 - 105
Main Authors Gao, Hao, Ghoreishian Amiri, Seyed Ali, Kjelstrup, Signe, Grimstad, Gustav, Loranger, Benoit, Scibilia, Elena
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bognor Regis Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2023
Subjects
Boundary conditions
Deformation
distinct ice lenses
Finite element analysis
Finite element method
Fracture mechanics
Frost
frost heave
Frost heaving
Heat transport
Heaving
Ice
Ice formation
Ice lenses
Laboratory tests
Lenses
Mathematical models
Mechanics
Nonequilibrium thermodynamics
Overburden
Parameterization
Physical properties
Saturated soils
Soil mechanics
Temperature gradients
THM coupling
Water flow
X‐FEM
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Summary:This paper presents a fully coupled thermo‐hydro‐mechanical (THM) model which simulates frost heave in fully saturated soils. The model is able to simulate the formation and growth of multiple distinct ice lenses. The basic equations of the system were derived using the continuum theory of mixtures, nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and fracture mechanics, considering skeleton deformation, water flow and heat transport. Central to this model is the coupled transport of mass due to the temperature gradient across the frozen fringe, which acts as the main driving force of the phenomenon. The model is formulated in terms of measurable physical properties and thus no ad hoc parametrization is required. In an ice‐lens‐free state, the system is solved as a continuum using the finite element method (FEM). It is then locally treated as a discontinuous system upon the formation of ice lens, by enriching the elements carrying the embedded ice lens(es) using the extended finite element method (X‐FEM). The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed model has been verified using several laboratory tests on Devon silt samples at different overburden pressures and thermal boundary conditions. Shut‐off pressures have been also estimated and compared with the experimental results.
ISSN:0363-9061
1096-9853
DOI:10.1002/nag.3461