Heaving Pressure in Soils During Unidirectional Freezing

Abstract

Ice lenses in natural soil are normally formed in a thermal gradient regime, and this permits the development of an undulating frost line if a range of pore sizes exists. Evidence is presented that suggests that the undulating nature of the ice-water interface permits the ice lens to form over the smaller pores of the system. Although fractions with only a limited particle size range have been studied, the results support the use of particle size as a valid basis for assessing frost susceptibility.