Abstract
Based on the field meteorological and ground temperature in the winter construction process of the world's third highest earth-core rockfill dam for the Lianghekou Hydropower Station (LHS) in Sichuan province, China, the daily and frequent freeze–thaw process of the filling soil in the dam and its driving factors have been studied. Observational data shows that since this area belongs to the high-altitude area and in the mountains, the freeze–thaw process of soil under construction is more complicated, and the freeze–thaw characteristics of soil are different from those under natural environmental conditions. The freeze–thaw characteristics are variable, which includes daily freezing start time (FST), freezing end time (FET), freezing duration (DR), and frozen depth (FD). FST shows relatively large fluctuation over time, and it also shows certain regularity within a short-term range. Solar radiation mainly controls the daily freeze–thaw process, and ground temperature affects air temperature. Under the local environment with little rainfall and snow, the long-term freeze–thaw process is mainly affected by air temperature, wind speed and relative humidity. The freeze–thaw process is affected by the dual factors of the accumulated ground temperature under local conditions and the temperature drop process of the large environment. This research can provide useful reference for the prevention of soil freeze–thaw in a dam for hydropower station construction process in the seasonally frozen soil areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anandhi A, Perumal S, Gowda PH, Knapp M, Hutchinson S, Harrington JJ, Murray L, Kirkham MB, Rice CW (2013) Long-term spatial and temporal trends in frost indices in Kansas, USA. Clim Change 120:169–181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0794-4
Bing H, Ma W (2011a) Laboratory investigation of the freezing point of saline soil. Cold Reg Sci Technol 67:79–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2011a.02.008
Bing H, Ma W (2011b) Experimental study on freezing point of saline soil. J Glaciol Geocry 33:1106–1113 (In Chinese)
Chai HM, Liu ZJ, Gu HM (2003) Discussion on the relationship between solar radiation, air temperature and ground temperature. J North China Institute Water Conservancy Electric Power 24:4–8. https://doi.org/10.19760/j.ncwu.zk.2003.03.002 (in Chinese)
Chai HM, Liu ZJ, Gu HM (2011) Impact of surface energy variation on thawing processes within active layer of permafrost. J Glaciol Geocry 33(6):1235–1242 (In Chinese)
Chamberlain EJ, Gow AJ (1979) Effect of freezing and thawing on the permeability and structure of soils. Eng Geol 13:73–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(79)90022-X
Cui ZD, He PP, Yang WH (2014) Mechanical properties of a silty clay subjected to freezing-thawing. Cold Reg Sci Technol 98:26–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2013.10.009
Easterling DR (2002) Recent changes in frost days and the frost-free season in the United States. B Am Meteorol Soc. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-83-7-Young
Grechishchev SE, Instanes A, Sheshin JB, Pavlov AV (2001) Laboratory investigation of the freezing point of oil-polluted soils. Cold Reg Sci Technol 32:183–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-232X(01)00030-1
Han LJ, Tsunekawa A, Tsubo M (2010) Monitoring near-surface soil freeze-thaw cycles in northern China and Mongolia from 1998 to 2007. Int J Appl Earth OBS 12:375–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2010.04.009
Han Y, Wang Q, Kong YY, Cheng SK, Wang JQ, Zhang XD (2018) Experiments on the initial freezing point of dispersive saline soil. Catena 171:681–690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2018.07.046
Han Y, Wang Q, Xia WT, Liu J, Wang JQ, Chen YT, Shen JJ (2020) Experimental study on the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated dispersive soil with different salinities subjected to freeze-thaw. J Hydrol 583:124297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124297
Henry HAL (2008) Climate change and soil freezing dynamics: historical trends and projected changes. Clim Change 87:421–434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-007-9322-8
Hotineanu A, Bouasker M, Aldaood A, Al-Mukhtar M (2015) Effect of freeze-thaw cycling on the mechanical properties of lime-stabilized expansive clays. Cold Reg Sci Technol 119:151–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.08.008
Huizen BV, Sutton OF, Price JS, Petrone RM (2022) Assessing the importance of bi-directional melting when modeling boreal peatland freeze/thaw dynamics. J Hydrol 604:127236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.127236
Ishikawa T, Tokoro T, Miura S (2016) Influence of freeze-thaw action on hydraulic behavior of unsaturated volcanic coarse-grained soils. Soils Found 56(5):790–804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.08.005
Kozlowski T (2009) Some factors affecting supercooling and the equilibrium freezing point in soil-water systems. Cold Reg Sci Technol 59:25–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2009.05.009
Kraatz S, Jacobs JM, Miller HJ (2019) Spatial and temporal freeze-thaw variations in Alaskan roads. Cold Reg Sci Tehnol 157:149–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.10.006
Lai YM, Xu XT, Yu WB, Qi JL (2014) An experimental investigation of the mechanical behavior and a hyperplastic constitutive model of frozen loess. Int J Eng Sci 84:29–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijengsci.2014.06.011
Li T, Chen YZ, Han LJ, Cheng LH, Lv YH, Fu BJ, Feng XM, Wu X (2021) Shortened duration and reduced area of frozen soil in the Northern Hemisphere. Innovation 2:100146
Li X, Jin R, Pan XD, Zhang TJ, Guo JW (2012) Changes in the near-surface soil freeze-thaw cycle on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Int J Appl Earth OBS 17:33–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2011.12.002
Liu BH, Henderson M, Xu M (2008) Spatiotemporal change in China’s frost days and frost-free season, 1955–2000. J Geophys Res 113:D12104. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JD009259
Liu GY, Xie CW, Yang SH (2018) Spatial and temporal variation characteristics on the onset dates of freezing and thawing of active layer and its influence factors in permafrost regions along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. J Glaciol Geocry 40(6):1067–1078. https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2018.0413 (In Chinese)
Liu JK, Chang D, Yu QM (2016) Influence of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical properties of a silty sand. Eng Geol 210:23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.05.019
Lu Y, Liu SH, Zhang YG, Wang LJ, Li Z (2021) Hydraulic conductivity of gravelly soils with coarse particle contents subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. J Hydrol 598:126302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126302
Mu YH, Zhu XY, Yue P, Wang XB, Ren XL, Zhang ZY, Yu QH (2018) Monitoring investigation on winter freezing-thawing of dam core wall soils in cold regions. J Glaciol Geocry 40:756–763. https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2018.0405 (In Chinese)
Qi JL, Ma W, Song CX (2008) Influence of freeze-thaw on engineering properties of a silty soil. Cold Reg Sci Technol 53:397–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.05.010
Qian GL, Yan BZ (2008) Planning assumption of China’s water resources and major super-large hydropower stations. Northwest Hydroelectric 3:4–8 (In Chinese)
Sinha T, Cherkauer KA (2008) Time series analysis of soil freeze and thaw processes in Indiana. J Hydrometeorol 9:936–950. https://doi.org/10.1175/2008JHM934.1
Smith NV, Saatchi SS, Randerson JT, Armstrong JS (2004) Trends in high northern latitude soil freeze and thaw cycles from 1988 to 2002. J Geophys Res 109:D12101. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD004472
Sun YQ, Meng SJ, Wang M, Mu HL, Tang XC (2021) Deterioration effect of freeze-thaw on mechanical properties of roadbed clay under unfavorable conditions. B Eng Geol Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02203-8
Tan HT (2015) Application of winter construction measures in Lianghekou Hydropower Station right bank slope. Constr Technol 44(S1):832–835 (In Chinese)
Tang L, Cong SY, Ling XZ, Gan FD (2018) The effect of freeze-thaw cycling on the mechanical properties of expansive soils. Cold Reg Sci Technol 145:197–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2017.10.004
Tang LY, Li G, Li Z, Jin L, Yang GS (2021) Shear properties and pore structure characteristics of soil-rock mixture under freeze-thaw cycles. B Eng Geol Environ 80:3233–3249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02118-4
Tao H, Ewees AA, Al-Sulttani AO, Beyaztas U, Hameed MM, Salih SQ, Armanuos AM, Al-Ansari N, Voyant C, Shahid S, Yaseen ZM (2021) Global solar radiation prediction over North Dakota using air temperature: development of novel hybrid intelligence model. Energy Rep 7:136–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2020.11.033
Tao ZF, Zhang Y, Chen XR, Gu XM (2022) Effects of freeze-thaw cycles on the mechanical properties of cement-fiber composite treated silty clay. Constr Build Mater 316:125867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125867
Viklander P (1998) Permeability and volume changes in till due to cyclic freeze-thaw. Can Geotech J 35:471–477. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-35-3-471
Wang DY, Ma W, Wang YT, Wen Z (2016) Effects of high pressure on cooling process of clays in deep alluvium. Chin J Geotech Eng 38:1889–1894. https://doi.org/10.11779/CJGE201610019 (In Chinese)
Wang K, Zhang TJ, Zhong X, Wang HJ (2015) Changes in the timing and duration of the near-surface soil freeze/thaw status from 1956 to 2006 across China. Cryosphere 9:1321–1331. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1321-2015
Wang SL, Luo XR (1991) The distributive characteristics of frozen ground in the east of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. J Glaciol Geocry 13:131–140 (In Chinese)
Wang YB, Huang Z, Qian JX, Li T, Luo J, Li ZG, Qiu KY, López-Vicente M, Wu GL (2021) Freeze-thaw cycles aggravated the negative effects of moss-biocrusts on hydraulic conductivity in sandy land. Catena 207:105638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105638
Wu SY, Cao W, Shen MB (2012) Development progress of hydropower resources in the Yalong River Basin, technical progress in reservoir dam construction and management-Proceedings of 2012 annual conference of China Dam Association pp 41–47
Xia K, Luo Y, Li WP (2011) Simulation of freezing and melting of soil on the northeast Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Sci Bull 56(20):2145–2155
Xu J, Li YF, Ren C, Wang SH, Vanapalli SK, Chen GX (2021) Influence of freeze-thaw cycles on microstructure and hydraulic conductivity of saline intact loess. Cold Reg Sci Technol 181:103183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.103183
Xu S, Fu Q, Li TX, Meng FX, Liu D, Hou RJ, Li M, Li QL (2022) Spatiotemporal characteristics of the soil freeze-thaw state and its variation under different land use types-A case study in Northeast China. Agric for Meteorol 312:108737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2021.108737
Xu XT, Wang YB, Bai RQ, Fan CX, Hua SG (2016) Comparative studies on mechanical behavior of frozen natural saline silty sand and frozen desalted silty sand. Cold Reg Sci Technol 132:81–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2016.09.015
Yang SH, Wu TH, Li R, Zhu XF, Wang WH, Yu WJ, Qin YH, Hao JM (2018) Spatial-temporal changes of the near-surface soil freeze-thaw status over the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Plateau Meteorol 37:43–53. https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0534.2017.00043 (In Chinese)
Yao L, Liu B, Wu ZX (2007) Present and future power generation in China. Nucl Eng Des 237:1468–1473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2006.09.045
Yu J, Chen X, Li H, Zhou JW, Cai YY (2015) Effect of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical properties and permeability of red sandstone under triaxial compression. J MT Sci 12(1):218–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-013-2946-4
Yuan JX, Yi ZJ, Wang SY (2016) Geological challenges in construction of hydropower projects in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding areas. J Eng Geol 24(5):847–855 (In Chinese)
Zhang FF (2008) Research and application of frost heaving of seasonal frozen soil. M.S. thesis, Jilin University, Changchun City, Jilin Province (In Chinese)
Zhang T, Armstrong RL, Smith J (2003) Investigation of the near-surface soil freeze-thaw cycle in the contiguous United States: algorithm development and validation. J Geophys Res 108(D22):8860. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD003530
Zhang W, Ji R (2008) Response of maximum frozen depth and duration of soil frozen to climate in Chaoyang Prefecture of Liaoning Province, 1955–2000. J Glaciol Geocryol 40(1):18–25. https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2018.0333 (In Chinese)
Zhao L, Ping CL, Yang DQ, Cheng GD, Ding YJ, Liu SY (2004) Changes of climate and seasonally frozen ground over the past 30 years in Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau, China. Global Planet Change 43:19–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avsg.2008.02.011
Zhao YH (2017) Study on prevention and control measures for soil in winter, Lianghekou Hydropower Project. Northwest Hydroelectric 6:94–99. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-2610.2017.06.024 (In Chinese)
Zhong W, Yuan QQ, Liu TT, Yue LW (2022) Freeze/thaw onset detection combining SMAP and ASCAT data over Alaska: a machine learning approach. J Hydrol 605:127354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.127354
Zhou YW, Guo DX, Cheng GD (2000) Frozen soil of China. Science Press, Beijing, China
Zhu LN, Wu ZW, Liu YZ, Guo XM, Li DQ (1995) Effects of permafrost degeneration on environment in the east of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Mar Geol Q Geol 15:129–136 (In Chinese)
Zhu LN, Wu ZW, Zang EM, Pan BW, Liu YZ, Tao GX (1996) Difference of permafrost degeneration in the east of the Tibetan Plateau. J Glaciol Geocry 18:104–110 (In Chinese)
Funding
This research was funded by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) program (2019QZKK0905), the Science and Technology Project of Yalong River Hydropower Development Company (LHKA-G201906), and the program of the State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering (SKLFSE-ZQ-202106).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Ren, X., Yu, Q., Yue, P. et al. Freeze–thaw process of backfill in a dam and its driving factors in seasonally frozen soil area. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 422 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02923-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02923-5