The U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory is developing a mechanistic pavement design procedure for use in seasonal frost areas. The procedure was used to predict pavement performance of some test sections under construction at the Mn/ROAD facility. Simulations were conducted in three phases, investigating the effects on predictions of water table position, subgrade characteristics, asphalt model, and freeze season characteristics. The procedure predicted significantly different performance by the different test sections and highly variable results depending on the performance model applied. The simulated performance of the tests sections also was greatly affected by the subgrade conditions, e.g., density, soil moisture, and water table depth. In general, predictions for the full depth asphalt sections indicate that they will not fail due to cracking, but two of the three criteria for subgrade rufting indicate failure before the five or 10 year design life of the sections. Conventional sections are predicted not to fail due to subgrade rutting; however, sections including the more frost susceptible bases in their design are predicted to fail due to asphalt cracking relatively early in their design life, and sections with nonfrost susceptible bases are predicted to fail towards the end of the design life.

This new edition of Frozen Ground Engineering gives a peerless presentation of soil mechanics for frozen ground conditions and a variety of frozen ground support systems used on construction projects worldwide. An authoritative update of the industry standard, this Second Edition covers the essential theory, applications, and design methods using frozen ground in the construction of deep shafts, tunnels, deep excavations, and subsurface containment barriers. New material features design models for pavement structures used in seasonal frost and permafrost areas, new information on the movement of fluid phase contaminants in frozen ground, and helpful appendices offering guidance on common frozen ground tests and SI unit conversions. This new edition gives the essential information engineers, geologists, and students need in a complete reference, including up-to-date information on: Sensitivity of frozen ground to climate change Experimental work on frozen soil creep and strength Monitoring creep in frozen slopes Frost protection of foundations using ground insulation Highway insulation Load restrictions for seasonal frost areas