The Influence of Insulation upon Frost Penetration Beneath Pavements

• Main Authors: Eaton, Robert A, Dukeshire, Daniel E
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1976
• Subjects: Snow; Ice and Permafrost; Civil Engineering; Construction Equipment; Materials & Supplies; *FROST HEAVE; *PAVEMENT BASES; *THERMAL INSULATION; ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE; DEFLECTION; FAILURE(MECHANICS); FREEZING; ICE LENSES; MELTING; PENETRATION; POLYSTYRENE; PROFILES; SOILS; STYRENE PLASTICS; TABLES(DATA); TEST METHODS; DESIGN; WU030; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA026957; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA026957

Frost action in soils causes pavement structures to heave because of ice lense growth during the freezing season. The loss of structural support in the spring caused by melting of the ice lenses can precipitate pavement failure. In order to minimize differential frost heaving caused by variable in-situ soil conditions, granular material is placed on top of the frost-susceptible subgrade. This creates a uniform layer to bridge subsurface irregularities in soil properties. The thickness of uniform granular material depends on the depth of frost penetration and desired protection. This method of protecting the pavement structure from differential (uneven) heaving can be costly depending on the amount of granular material required and its availability. A method of reducing the amount of granular material is the use of a thermal insulating layer beneath all or part of the base course which prevents freezing temperatures from reaching the non-uniform subgrade. A test road which includes Styrofoam board insulated test sections was constructed at CRREL in 1973.