Mechanism and prevention of highway distress in seasonal frost area

Abstract

Frozen damage to highways in colder climates, including frost heaving because of ice lenses growth and thaw weakening caused by ice lenses melting. The frost action reacts on the highway structure that is a major concern at the locations constructing a highway in cold regions, and the frozen damage of road is a phenomenon of great practical importance in highway engineering design and construction. The objectives of this paper are to: (1) study the effects of frozen damage on road performance in cold climate regions, (2) investigate the factors contributing to the changes in highway structure physical and mechanical properties, (3)provide guidelines for anti-freezing design of highway in seasonal frost areas. The approach focuses on analyzing the characteristics and the mechanisms of frost heaving and frost boiling, and adopting initiative methods to reduce the frozen damage to highways. This thesis gives a review and summary of the preventive measures to minimize highway distress in seasonally frozen regions that will benefit the design and maintenance for highway structure.