THE ADVANCE AND REVIEW ON FROZEN SOIL MECHANICS

The recent advances in frozen soil mechanics are demonstrated and discussed from four aspects: (1) Test studies on the mechanical properties of the frozen soil; (2) Heat conductivity properties of the mixture materials of the freezing soil; (3) Water migration behaviors in the freezing soil; and (4) The Heat-Moisture-Deformation Coupling Models. A discussion on above four areas is made for further researches, and suggestions are offered as follows: (a) The research should be transferred from the deformation and strength properties of the frozen soil to the heat and moisture migration behaviors of the freezing and thawing soil, which is often important in engineering. (b) More attentions should be paid to the field tests with complex water and heat boundaries, instead of the lab tests with very simple boundaries. (c) The structure and grade size distribution of the frozen soil should be considered in the further test studies.