Abstract
The construction of water conservancy projects in cold regions experiences freezing-thawing cycles, which can greatly change the engineering properties of soil and have a significant impact on the construction of projects. Lianghekou Hydropower Station (LHS), is a controlling station with the largest installed capacity among the 7 middle reach projects in the Yalong River, the secondary tributary of the Yangtze River. LHS is located in a seasonally frozen soil area. Based on the measured data of air and ground temperature in winter in the dam core wall, the freezing-thawing variation of gravelly soil and contact clay during the filling process of the core wall are compared and analyzed, then the main impact factors of the freezing-thawing variation of soils are discussed. The results show that under the influence of air temperature, soil freezes unidirectionally from ground surface downward and deepens gradually, and the thawing processes are different at the aspects of thawing direction and rate. Air temperature and physical properties of soil including soil type, moisture content and dry density affect the freezing-thawing processes of soils. And the impact of engineering construction is more remarkable than natural factors. The engineering construction affects soil temperature and freezing-thawing process by controlling the initial temperature of soil, the speed and duration of the technological conversion of paving, compaction, and the length of placed duration at night. Due to the long placed duration of soil with the slow construction method, the initial temperature of soil gradually reduces, the heat transfer process inside soil is fast. Then the internal heat of soil releases, the decreasing rate of ground temperature of soil at different depths is fast and the frozen depth deepens. While due to the short placed duration of soil with the rapid construction process, the initial temperature of soil is high, high internal heat of soil is supplied every day, and the heat transfer process inside soil is slow. Then the decreasing rate of temperature of soil at different depths is slow, and the variation amplitude of frozen depth is small. This study provides useful guidance for the freezing-thawing prevention during the construction process of core wall dams located at high altitude region in winter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Christ M, Kim YC (2009) Experimental study on the physical-mechanical properties of frozen silt. Journal of Civil Engineering 13(5): 317–324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-009-0317-z
Ding MT, Zhang F, Ling XZ, et al. (2018) Effects of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical properties of polypropylene fiber and cement stabilized clay. Cold Regions Science and Technology 154: 155–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.07.004
Edwin JC, Anthony JG (1979) Effect of freezing and thawing on the permeability and structure of soils. Engineering Geology 13(1–4): 73–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-41782-4.50012-9
Fan WH, Yang P, Yang ZH (2018) Impact of freeze-thaw on the physical properties and compressibility of saturated clay. Cold Regions Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2019.102873
Fang LL, Qi JL, Ma W (2012) Freeze-Thaw induced changes in soil structure and its relationship with variations in strength. Journal of Glaciology Geocryology 34(2): 435–440. (In Chinese)
Li HP, Zhu YL, Zhang JB, et al. (2004). Effects of temperature, strain rate and dry density on compressive strength of saturated frozen clay. Cold Regions Science and Technology 39: 39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2004.01.001
Li X, Jin R, Pan XH, et al. (2012) Changes in the near-surface soil freeze-thaw cycle on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 17: 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2011.12.002
Liu JK, Chang D, Yu QM (2016) Influence of freeze-thaw cycles on mechanical properties of a silty sand. Engineering Geology 210: 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.05.019
Liu GY, Liu 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. Journal of Glaciology Geocryology 40(6): 1067–1078. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2018.0413
Liu YN, Huang RQ, Liu EL, et al. (2018) Mechanical behaviour and constitutive model of tailing soils subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-00937-5
Liu YN, Liu EL (2020) Study on cyclically dynamic behavior of tailing soil exposed to freeze-thaw cycles. Cold Regions Science and Technology 171: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2019.102984
Luo DL, Jin HJ, Lv LZ, et al. (2014) Temporal and spatial characteristics of permafrost active layer and seasonally frozen soil freeze-thaw process in the Yellow River Source Region. Science Bulletin 59(14): 1327–1336. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0189-6
Miao CY, Chen JF, Zheng XQ (2018) Relationship between air temperatures and soil freezing-thawing process. Journal of Tai Yuan University Technology 49(3): 412–417. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.16355/j.cnki.issn1007-9432tyut.2018.03.007
Pang QQ, Zhao L, Li SX (2011) Influence of local factors on ground temperatures in permafrost regions along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Journal of Glaciology Geocryology 33(2): 349–356. (In Chinese)
Paudel B, Wang BL (2010) Freeze-thaw effect on consolidation properties of fine grained soils from the Mackenzie valley. Canada. GEO 992–996.
Qi JL, Ma W, Song CX (2008) Influence of freeze-thaw on engineering properties of a silty soil. Cold Regions Science and Technology 53: 397–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2007.05.010
Ren JQ, Wang DN, Liu YX, et al. (2019) Daily variation of soil freezing-thawing and its relationship with air and soil temperature in Jilin Province. Journal of Glaciology Geocryology 41(2): 324–333. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2019.0108
Smith NV, Saatchi SS, Randerson JT (2004) Trends in high northern latitude soil freeze and thaw cycles from 1988 to 2002. Journal of Geophysical Research 109, D12101: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003jd004472
Viklander P (1998) Permeability and volume changes in till due to cyclic freeze-thaw. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 35(3): 471–477. https://doi.org/10.1139/t98-015
Wang QF, Jin HJ, Zhang TJ, et al. (2016) Active layer seasonal freeze-thaw processes and influencing factors in the alpine permafrost regions in the upper reaches of the Heihe River in Qilian Mountains. Science Bulletin 61(24): 2742–2756. (In Chinese)
Wu B, Wei X, Yang XP (2018) Dam core embankment construction of Lianghekou Hydropower Project in rainy season. Northwest Hydropower 5: 60–63, 69. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-2610.2018.05.014
Xi AX, Liu ZH, Lu WJ (2016) Processes of seasonal frozen soil freezing-thawing and impact on snowmelt runoff in arid area. Research of Soil and Water Conservation 23(2): 333–339. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.13869/j.cnki.rswc.2016.02.061
Xie SB, Qu JJ, Lai YM, et al. (2015) Effects of freeze-thaw cycles on soil mechanical and physical properties in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Journal of Mountain Science 12(4): 999–1099.
Yang MX, Yao CD, Gou XH (2000) Freeze-thaw process and water and heat distribution characteristics of soil along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Progress in Nature Science 10(5): 443–450. (In Chinese)
Yang SH, Wu TH, Li R, et al. (2018) Spatial-temporal changes of the near-surface soil freeze-thaw status over the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Plateau Meteorology 37(1): 43–53. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0534.2017.00043
Yu QH, Jiang ZQ, Qian J, et al. (2013) Analysis on key problems of Qinghai-Tibet Highway construction in China. Proceedings of the 6th China Highway Science and Technology Innovation Forum, China, pp. 185–192. (In Chinese)
Zhao XB, Liu TJ, Xu SG, et al. (2015) Freezing-thawing process and soil moisture migration within the black soil plow layer in seasonally frozen ground regions. Journal of Glaciology Geocryology 37(1): 233–240. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2015.0026
Zheng Y, Ma W, Bing H (2015) Impact of freezing and thawing cycles on the structures of soil and a quantitative approach. Journal of Glaciology Geocryology 37(1): 132–137. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.7522/j.issn.1000-0240.2015.0014
Acknowledgements
The research was supported by National Natural Science Funds of China (Nos. 41771066, 41825015), and the Science and Technology Project of Yalong River Hydropower Development Company (No. LHKA-G201906).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ren, Xl., Yu, Qh., Zhang, Gk. et al. Effects of freezing-thawing on the engineering performance of core wall soil materials of a dam in the process of construction. J. Mt. Sci. 17, 2840–2852 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6264-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6264-3