Modeling of Frost Heave In Soils

This report is presented in two parts. In Part I, R. Michalowski outlines the basic background of frost heave modeling including a summary of the existing modeling approaches. The central element in this part of the report is the extension and application of the Blanchard and Fremond frost heave model. Results from these models are in good agreement with other modeling approaches and consistent with current frost heave understanding. In Part II, V. Voller discusses various similarities between frost heave in soil and solidification of metal alloys. Three components in the thermo-mechanical frost heave model are identified: (i) modeling phase change, (ii) modeling groundwater flow and (iii) deformation modeling. In the context of the first of these components a numerical technique, previously developed for metallurigical phase change, is applied to a two dimensional case of ground freezing. Results, obtained in a matter of seconds on an IBM PC, are in close agreement with existing frost heave models. This part of the report concludes with a discussion of current and on-going work, in particular the thesis work of the master student, L. Hou, who will couple the numerical techniques of Part II with the phenomenological model of Part I.