Journal Published Online: 06 July 2021
Volume 50, Issue 6

The Measurement of Unfrozen Water Content and SFCC of a Coarse-Grained Volcanic Soil

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

In frozen soils, a portion of pore water remains unfrozen due to the effects of capillarity, adsorption, and possibly solute. The variation of the amount of unfrozen water and ice in a frozen soil, which is primarily influenced by subzero temperature, has great impacts on the physical and mechanical behavior of the soil and is critical for broad applications ranging from engineering to climate change. In the present study, the various methods that have been used for determining unfrozen water (and ice) content are comprehensively reviewed. Their principles, assumptions, advantages, and limitations are discussed. It is noted that there is yet no perfect way to accurately quantify unfrozen water content in frozen soils. In addition, the soil-freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) of a typical volcanic soil sampled in the Hokkaido prefecture of Japan is investigated. The unfrozen water content of the prepared soil specimens was measured using a cheap moisture sensor, which is based on the frequency domain reflectometry technique. The temperature of the specimens was determined by a rugged temperature sensor. Different numbers of freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles and different freezing/thawing methods (i.e., one- and three-dimensional) were considered, and their effects on the SFCC were investigated. The experimental results suggest that neither the F-T cycles nor the freezing/thawing methods had significant influence on the measured SFCC. The presented comprehensive review and experimental investigations are of importance for both the scientific and engineering communities.

Author Information

Ren, Junping
College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, the Ministry of Education of China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Zhang, Shoulong
Division of Field Engineering for the Environment, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
Wang, Chong
Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, the Ministry of Education of China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Ishikawa, Tatsuya
Division of Field Engineering for the Environment, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
Vanapalli, Sai K.
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
Pages: 25
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JTE20210049
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20210049