Shear moduli and damping in frozen and unfrozen clay by resonant column tests

The resonant-column test method was used in this study to determine the dynamic shear moduli and damping ratios of frozen and unfrozen soil samples. Naturally frozen soil specimens were obtained in-situ during the winter. A series of tests were carried out on the frozen soil specimens in a cold room at -9 degrees C. The same specimens, after allowing them to thaw, were then tested at room temperature. Test results show that at low-amplitude shear strains the damping ratio of frozen soil specimens is roughly twice that of unfrozen samples. In addition, the dynamic shear modulus for soil specimens while frozen is significantly greater (30 or 50 times) than that of unfrozen specimens. These results provide a basis for explaining an observation that bus-induced vibrations in buildings while the top soil is frozen in winter are about one-half those induced while the soil is not frozen.