Infrared radiation method for measuring ice segregation temperature of artificially frozen soils

In order to study the evolution of the freezing fringe and final lenses of frost susceptible soils and advance the understanding of frost heave and mechanism of frost heave control, we used an open one-dimensional frost heave test system of infrared radiation technology, instead of a traditional thermistor method. Temperatures of the freezing fringe and segregated ice were measured in a non-contact mode. The results show that accurate and precise temperatures of ice segregation can be obtained by infrared thermal imaging systems. A self-developed inversion program inverted the temperature field of frozen soils. Based on our analysis of temperature variation in segregated ice and our study of the relationship between temperature and rate of ice segregation in cooling and warming processes during intermittent freezing, the mechanism of decreasing frost heave of frozen soils by controlling the growth of final lenses with an intermittent freezing mode, can be explained properly.(C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Mining & Technology.