The causes of ice lens formation in soils

• Main Authors: Kretschmer, G., National Research Council Of Canada. Division Of Building Research
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: National Research Council of Canada 1961
• Subjects: permafrost; soils; ice; water; freezing; frost heaving; soil mechanics; frozen soils; pergélisol; sol; glace; eau; congélation; foisonnement par le gel; mécanique des sols; sol gelé; Ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.4224/20358789; https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=86acdb32-54cf-4a95-9305-ac91d0f7a42e

Whenever a soil of suitable texture and structure and with sufficient water content freezes slowly, the equilibrium between the amount of water in the film and the boundary- surface forces are disturbed in the film situated between the ice and the soil substance. The disturbance results in the loss of liquid water by the film to the ice and this increases the size of the ice lens. The disturbance in the film is immediately compensated, because the boundary- surface forces keep the amount of water in the film constant. The compensation is brought about by the movement of water from the unfrozen soil to the film. Because the liquid film, as such, retains a constant thickness the part which becomes ice must be displaced. Thus ice lens formation and growth, water displacement and ground heaving come about as different aspects of a single event. The mechanical work performed during this event is done substantially by the boundary-surface forces of the two boundary surfaces, that between the ice and the water film and that between the water film and the soil particles. : Lorsqu'un sol qui présente une texture et une structure appropriées et qui a une teneur en eau suffisante gèle lentement, l'équilibre s'établissant entre la quantité d'eau contenue dans le film et les forces s'exercant à la surface limite est perturbé dans le film situé entre la glace et le sol. La perturbation résulte de la perte d'eau du film en faveur de la glace ce qui augmente les dimensions de la lentille de glace.