Research Article
Li Z, He Y, Sheng J and Li Y
Abstract
To study the effects of soil-bags on the prevention of frost heave in canals in cold regions, experiments were conducted on models of soil-bags -treated and conventional canals subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. The amounts of frost heave and thaw settlement, water content and changes in temperature over time in the soil-bags-treated canals and conventional canals were studied. The experimental results showed that a significant frost heave-preventing effect was found in the soil-bags-treated canals subjected to freeze-thaw cycles, and the mechanism of the soilbags prevention of frost heave in canals was revealed. The frost heave-preventing effect of soil-bags was achieved by inhibiting the rising of capillary water and film water, in addition to introducing a reinforcement effect. The study provides a theoretical basis for the prevention of frost heaving in canals in cold regions.