Determination of Frost Penetration by Soil Resistivity Measurements.

• Main Author: Atkins,Ronald T
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1979
• Subjects: Soil Mechanics; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; *SOIL MECHANICS; *FROST; *SOIL RESISTANT PROPERTIES; *ICE PENETRATION; COLD REGIONS; THERMISTORS; FREEZING; ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE; THERMOCOUPLES; TEMPERATURE MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; COLD WEATHER TESTS; PE61101A; AS91D; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA071990; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA071990

Because of freezing point depression and isothermal springtime conditions, frost penetration measurements using temperature-sensing devices can become unreliable. In recognition of this problem two sensors that depend on changes in soil resistivity were tested. Tests were conducted under a parking area with an asphalt-concrete surface where salt was periodically applied as part of snow removal operations. For comparison, data were obtained from a resistivity probe, a thermocouple probe and a thermistor probe. Results indicated that measuring temperature to determine frost penetration can lead to large errors under some conditions, for instance when salt has been applied or when frost is coming out of the ground in spring. The resistivity probe performed reliability during the entire measurement program. It was conluded that resistivity probes have definite advantages which should be considered when future frost penetration measurement programs are designed. (Author)