The Construction of an Embankment with Frozen Soil.
Abstract
This paper presents the construction procedure, data and analysis from an experimental field program to determine the rippability and compaction characteristics of frozen soil. Also investigated was the stability upon thawing of the frozen soil compacted in the field. A test embankment, 60 feet by 20 feet and 4.5 feet high, was constructed of two sandy soils by conventional construction techniques. The material was ripped with a tractor-mounted ripper, hauled with a dump truck and compacted with a sheepsfoot roller. The embankment was instrumented for settlement and soil temperature. Field and laboratory testing was conducted toanalyze the deformation in the embankment with an elastic method and a finite element computer solution. Also the frozen chunks, produced in the ripping operation, were analyzed to determine the rippability of the frozen ground. From the results of the experimental program, several important conclusions concerning winter earthwork were obtained (1) Ripping frozen soil can be accomplished with heavy equipment which will produce a large range of chunk sizes. (2) The effectiveness of field compaction of frozen material is highly dependent on the moisture content of the soil, and (3) The magnitude of settlement in embankments constructed of frozen material is closely related to the compacted dry density of the plased soil. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA086877
Entities
People
- James J. Botz
- Wilbur M. Haas
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory