# Study of hydrothermal processes in ice-layers subgrade under constant temperature and dynamic loading

**Authors:** Jinbang Zhai, Ze Zhang, Linzhen Yang, Kunchao Zhou

PMC · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54089-7 · 2024-02-17

## TL;DR

This study examines how ice-layers in road subgrade soils respond to constant temperature and dynamic loading, affecting moisture and temperature distribution.

## Contribution

The study reveals how dynamic loading alters hydrothermal conditions and moisture migration in ice-layers subgrade soils.

## Key findings

- Dynamic loading changes temperature, moisture, and pore water pressure distribution in ice-layers subgrade.
- Pressure differences caused by dynamic loading lead to moisture accumulation in loaded areas.
- Lower soil temperatures reduce the impact of dynamic loading on moisture migration.

## Abstract

The presence of ice-layers in the subgrade soils makes the hydrothermal state of road subgrade built in island permafrost regions more susceptible to external environmental influences. In order to deepen the study of the ice-layers subgrade, a hydrothermal study of subgrade under constant temperature and dynamic loading was carried out. It was found that dynamic loading can change the temperature, moisture and pore water pressure distribution. Under dynamic loading, the hydrothermal and pore water pressure state of the soil in the upper part of the ice layer changed significantly at the beginning of the test. The application of dynamic loads alters the spatial distribution of pore water pressure in the soil, resulting in pressure differences between different areas, which affects the migration of moisture and ultimately leads to the formation of areas with higher moisture content in the area below the load. However, the reduction in soil temperature will weaken the effect of the load, therefore, the temperature of the soil should be controlled for frozen subgrade with ice-layers to prevent the accumulation of moisture in the soil.

## Full-text entities

- **Chemicals:** water (MESH:D014867), ice (MESH:D007053)

## Figures

9 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC10874452/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC10874452