Effect of temperature gradients on water migration, frost heave and thaw-settlement of a clay during freezing-thaw process

During the freezing process, water migration is a decisive factor for the estimation of frost heave and thaw-settlements of fine and mixed-grain soils. One-dimensional freezing tests with and without a water supply were carried out. The influence of different temperature gradients of a saturated clay on parameters such as water intake, frost heave, and thaw-settlements is discussed here. A new approach is presented to describe the rate of water intake, which consists of three parameters. This study shows that all three parameters were influenced by the temperature gradient. This approach helps predict frost heave and thaw-settlement in cold regions.