Creep behavior of soft clay subjected to artificial freeze-thaw from multiple-scale perspectives

Relying on the application of the artificial freezing method on subway tunnel construction, a series of triaxial creep tests were carried out to study the creep behavior changes of Shanghai soft clay subjected to artificial freeze-thaw action. On this basis, MIP tests were conducted with the soil samples before and after creep for comparison to investigate the microstructure changes. The results indicate that freeze-thawed soil produces smaller creep deformation and instantaneous deformation than the unfrozen soil. On a micro-level, during the creep process, the soil skeleton reaches a new structure balance with smaller pore volume and pore area. But the diameter of the maximum pore increases. The change rate of total intrusion volume is a pivotal micro-parameter to evaluate creep strain as there is a good linear relationship between them.