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Effect of freezing temperature and initial water content on hydrothermal migration of silty soil under freezing

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Abstract

Owing to the temperature, the migration and redistribution of soil water and heat during the freezing process are important factors affecting the spring waterlogging disaster in the permafrost area. In order to quantitatively analyze the effects of low freezing temperatures and initial soil water content on soil water and heat redistribution and their change rates, this study conducted indoor unidirectional closed freezing tests under different initial conditions, setting freezing temperatures (-20 ℃, -25 ℃, -35 ℃) and initial soil water content (12%, 22%, 32%). During the freezing process, we monitored the water and temperature of the silty sand column as well as quantitatively analyzed the influence of freezing temperature and initial soil water content on reaching stable freezing temperature, temperature reduction rate, unfrozen water content, and change rate of unfrozen water content at lower temperatures. Additionally, we summarized the change trend of various indicators with time and depth. The results showed that the freezing temperature and initial water content had significant effects on the shallow soil temperature and water content changes, and the effect gradually weakened with increasing depth. The lower the freezing temperature, the lower the initial water content, the shallower the depth, the shorter the time for the soil temperature field to reach stability, and the larger the temperature drop rate. At freezing temperatures, there is always some amount of unfrozen water that remains stable. The lower the freezing temperature, the shallower the depth, the lower the unfrozen water content, and the greater the change rate of unfrozen water content after freezing stabilization. The initial water content has little influence on the content of unfrozen water after freezing but has a significant influence on the rate of change of the unfrozen water content. The higher the initial water content, the greater the change rate of the unfrozen water content, and the faster the water migration. The research results are of great significance for understanding the internal laws between water content, temperature, and depth of frozen soil as well as for guiding the development and utilization of soil and soil resources in cold areas in the future.

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Funding

We are grateful to Project UNPYSCT-2020012 Supported by University Nursing Program for Young Scholars with Creative Talents in Heilongjiang Province for financial supports.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cold Groundwater Research, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China

    Chen Mo, Chen Hanbing & Lou Anyu

  2. School of Hydraulic Engineering, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China

    Chen Mo, Chen Hanbing & Lou Anyu

Authors
  1. Chen Mo
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  2. Chen Hanbing
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  3. Lou Anyu
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Correspondence to Chen Mo.

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All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Responsible Editor: Broder J. Merkel

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Mo, C., Hanbing, C. & Anyu, L. Effect of freezing temperature and initial water content on hydrothermal migration of silty soil under freezing. Arab J Geosci 15, 207 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09486-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09486-5

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