Thaw–Consolidation Tests on Undisturbed Fine-grained Permafrost

• Published in: Canadian Geotechnical Journal
• Main Authors: Nixon, J. F., Morgenstern, N. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1974
• Subjects: Civil and Structural Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology; Arctic; permafrost
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t74-012; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/t74-012

A series of thaw–consolidation tests on undisturbed frozen samples of Arctic soils is described. The tests were carried out in a special oedometer, and thawing was induced by the application of a sudden constant increase in surface temperature. Settlements, pore water pressures, and rates of thaw are measured, and interpreted in the light of current theories of heat transfer and thaw–consolidation. Excellent agreement is obtained between predicted and observed thaw rates, using published thermal properties. The observed pore pressures and settlements also are consistent with predicted behavior.These test results on a variety of undisturbed permafrost samples increase the level of confidence when applying the theory of consolidation for thawing soils to natural permafrost deposits.