Estimation of hydraulic conductivity of saturated frozen soil from the soil freezing characteristic curve

2020 ◽  
Vol 698 ◽  
pp. 134132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Ming ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Dongqing Li ◽  
Xiaobin Wei
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Frozen Soil ◽  
Soil Freezing

scholarly journals A Fractal Model of Hydraulic Conductivity for Saturated Frozen Soil

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Chen ◽  
Dongqing Li ◽  
Feng Ming ◽  
Xiangyang Shi ◽  
Xin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Pore Structure ◽  
Pore Size Distribution ◽  
Pore Size ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Fractal Theory ◽  
Frozen Soil ◽  
Soil Freezing ◽  
Size Dimension ◽  
Maximum Pore Size

In cold regions, hydraulic conductivity is a critical parameter for determining the water flow in frozen soil. Previous studies have shown that hydraulic conductivity hinges on the pore structure, which is often depicted as the pore size and porosity. However, these two parameters do not sufficiently represent the pore structure. To enhance the characterization ability of the pore structure, this study introduced fractal theory to investigate the influence of pore structure on hydraulic conductivity. In this study, the pores were conceptualized as a bundle of tortuous capillaries with different radii and the cumulative pore size distribution of the capillaries was considered to satisfy the fractal law. Using the Hagen-Poiseuille equation, a fractal capillary bundle model of hydraulic conductivity for saturated frozen soil was developed. The model validity was evaluated using experimental data and by comparison with previous models. The results showed that the model performed well for frozen soil. The model showed that hydraulic conductivity was related to the maximum pore size, pore size dimension, porosity and tortuosity. Of all these parameters, pore size played a key role in affecting hydraulic conductivity. The pore size dimension was found to decrease linearly with temperature, the maximum pore size decreased with temperature and the tortuosity increased with temperature. The model could be used to predict the hydraulic conductivity of frozen soil, revealing the mechanism of change in hydraulic conductivity with temperature. In addition, the pore size distribution was approximately estimated using the soil freezing curve, making this method could be an alternative to the mercury intrusion test, which has difficult maneuverability and high costs. Darcy’s law is valid in saturated frozen silt, clayed silt and clay, but may not be valid in saturated frozen sand and unsaturated frozen soil.

Discrete ice lens theory for frost heave in soils

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 843-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. (Derick) Nixon
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Temperature Gradient ◽  
Frozen Soil ◽  
Soil Freezing ◽  
Frost Heave ◽  
Overburden Pressure ◽  
Discrete Location ◽  
Freezing Soil ◽  
Analytical Technique ◽  
Segregation Potential

The existing segregation potential (SP) method for frost heave prediction in soils is semiempirical in nature and does not explicitly predict the relationship between heave rate, temperature gradient, and other more fundamental soil properties. The SP method assumes that the heave rate is directly related to the temperature gradient at the frost front but acknowledges that the SP parameter is dependent on pressure, suction at the frost front, cooling rate, soil type, and so forth. This paper extends and modifies an approximate analytical technique of Gilpin and accounts for the effects of distributed phase change within the freezing fringe in both the head- and mass-transfer components of the formulation. The approach requires as input a relationship between frozen hydraulic conductivity and temperature and predicts the discrete location of each ice lens within the freezing soil. The solution can be carried out quickly on a microcomputer to obtain the heave, suction at the frost front, ice lens temperature, and other results of interest with time. Furthermore, the discrete ice lens method predicts the effects of changing overburden pressure on the predicted heave rate. A method of extracting input parameters for the discrete ice lens procedure from a series of frost heave tests is proposed. The discrete ice theory has been tested and calibrated against well-documented frost heave test results in the literature, and very encouraging agreement between prediction and observation has been obtained. Key words: frost heave, discrete ice lens, segregation potential, hydraulic conductivity of frozen soil, freezing soil.

scholarly journals Finite Element Analysis of Artificially Frozen C-Phi soil

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 12722-12728
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Frozen Soil ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Soil Freezing ◽  
Strength Parameter ◽  
Frozen Ground ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Test Setup ◽  
Geological Conditions

Artificial Ground Freezing techniques eliminate the need for structural supports during the course of an excavation, as frozen ground is solid and waterproof. At present, it is adopted as an effective way to deal with various construction ground control challenges such as the mitigation of seepage infiltration into tunnels and shaft excavations; or ground strengthening for excavation. In-depth knowledge of the frozen soil characteristics through experiments and the development of suitable constitutive models that suit the geological conditions of our country are necessary to predict the strength and behavior of the frozen soils. Numerical analysis of frozen soil can be used for mass works like tunneling which cannot be experimentally verified. This paper presents a validation of experimental results obtained from laboratory setup and soil freezing system for C-Phi soil. The main aim is to compare numerical and experimental results and hence obtaining the shear strength parameter of the soil, similar to the conventional triaxial test setup. To perform numerical analysis Finite element tool ANSYS 19 is used. Soil model is made in ANSYS 19 and required loads are inputted to performed the analysis similar to the experimental method. The result obtained from experimental test setup and numerical analysis was verified and compared and it was found that values of numerical results lies closer to experimental results

Method for Quick Prediction of Hydraulic Conductivity and Soil-Water Retention of Unsaturated Soils

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (52) ◽  
pp. 108-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoyang Dong ◽  
Yuan Guo ◽  
Xiong (Bill) Yu
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention

Hydraulic conductivity and soil-water retention are two critical soil properties describing the fluid flow in unsaturated soils. Existing experimental procedures tend to be time consuming and labor intensive. This paper describes a heuristic approach that combines a limited number of experimental measurements with a computational model with random finite element to significantly accelerate the process. A microstructure-based model is established to describe unsaturated soils with distribution of phases based on their respective volumetric contents. The model is converted into a finite element model, in which the intrinsic hydraulic properties of each phase (soil particle, water, and air) are applied based on the microscopic structures. The bulk hydraulic properties are then determined based on discharge rate using Darcy’s law. The intrinsic permeability of each phase of soil is first calibrated from soil measured under dry and saturated conditions, which is then used to predict the hydraulic conductivities at different extents of saturation. The results match the experimental data closely. Mualem’s equation is applied to fit the pore size parameter based on the hydraulic conductivity. From these, the soil-water characteristic curve is predicted from van Genuchten’s equation. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results from documented studies, and excellent agreements were observed. Overall, this study provides a new modeling-based approach to predict the hydraulic conductivity function and soil-water characteristic curve of unsaturated soils based on measurement at complete dry or completely saturated conditions. An efficient way to measure these critical unsaturated soil properties will be of benefit in introducing unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice.

scholarly journals Effects of Temperature Change on the Soil Water Characteristic Curve and a Prediction Model for the Mu Us Bottomland, Northern China

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1235
Author(s):  
Xiaoying Qiao ◽  
Shaoyang Ma ◽  
Guixing Pan ◽  
Guanglu Liu
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Direct Measurement ◽  
Empirical Formula ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Soil Column ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Undisturbed Soil ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve

The soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) is the basis for obtaining the hydraulic conductivity parameters of a soil as well as for using soil water and heat transport models. At present, the curve can be obtained by two methods: by direct measurement and by empirical formula. Direct measurement is both difficult and time-consuming. By contrast, fitting the SWCC with a suitable empirical formula is stable and convenient. The van Genuchten (VG) model has the advantage of universal applicability due to its use of a statistical aperture distribution model for estimating hydraulic conductivity. This study selected the Mu Us Bottomland as a study area. Data on the water content and water potential of undisturbed soil from this site were obtained with a Ku-pF instrument and a self-designed soil column experiment with temperature settings of 13 °C, 18 °C, 23 °C, 27 °C, and 30 °C. The variation of four main parameters in the VG model with temperature was analyzed based on thermodynamic theory and considering the effect of temperature on soil capillary pressure via its effects on surface tension and contact angle. A prediction model for the soil-water characteristic curve of the Mu Us Bottomland was then constructed, and its applicability was further analyzed. The temperature dependence of the SWCC demonstrated here provides an important scientific basis for agricultural production, farmland water conservancy, and the design of soil and water conservation engineering projects.

Effects of skidding on forest soil infiltration in west-central Alberta

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Startsev ◽  
D. H. McNabb
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Freezing ◽  
Surface Erosion ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Constant Head

Soil compaction during forest harvesting generally reduces macropore space, which reduces infiltration and increases the potential for surface erosion and waterlogging. Hydrological effects of 3, 7 and 12 skidding cycles and their persistence were evaluated for 3 yr at 14 sites, which represented a range of soil texture and compaction conditions in the foothills and boreal forests of Alberta. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (HC) was determined using a constant head method on soil cores collected from 5- and 10-cm depths; unconfined infiltration rate of the surface soil (IR) was measured in situ with tension infiltrometers at near saturation. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in bulk density during skidding caused a significant reduction in both HC and IR after the first three cycles at eight sites where soil water potential at the time of skidding was higher than −15 kPa; the decrease at the other sites was not significant. Additional traffic, up to 12 cycles, did not cause a further significant decrease in HC or IR. The infiltration rate of soil compacted by three skidding cycles showed a recovery trend. However, in more intensively trafficked soils, compaction effects on infiltration remained significant for at least 3 yr, which was possibly attributed to heavy snowpacks preventing soil freezing at lower depths. Key words: Saturated hydraulic conductivity, unconfined infiltration rate, tension infiltrometers, skidders, boreal forest, Alberta

scholarly journals Theoretical Studies of Ice Segregation in Soil

1966 ◽  
Vol 6 (44) ◽  
pp. 255-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyoshi Arakawa
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Heat Conduction ◽  
Mathematical Theory ◽  
Frozen Soil ◽  
Soil Freezing ◽  
Heat Of Fusion ◽  
Theoretical Studies ◽  
Latent Heat Of Fusion ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Ice Segregation

Abstract The mathematical theory of heat conduction is applied to the analysis of ice segregation processes in soil. A diffusion equation is first employed for the flow of soil moisture. Two new quantities, the rate of ice segregation,σ and the segregation efficiency, E, are introduced. The first is the rate of ice growth measured as mass per area per time. The latter is defined as E = σL/(K 1 ∂T 1/∂x−K 2 ∂T 2/∂x), where L is the latent heat of fusion of ice, T 1and K 1are the temperature and thermal conductivity of frozen soil, and T 2 and K 2 are the temperature and thermal conductivity of unfrozen soil. Three types of soil freezing can be classified in terms of E: freezing of non-frost-susceptible soil (E = 0), perfect segregation (E = 1) and imperfect segregation (0 &lt; E &lt; 1). Finally, the mathematical boundary conditions at an advancing frost line are obtained in freezing, frost-susceptible soil (E ≠ 0). Two parameters related to the structure of soil are pointed out, which seem to be valid criteria of frost susceptibility. The amount of frost-heaving is derived under special conditions.

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