A NEW MODEL OF FROST HEAVE PREDICTION FOR CLAYEY SOILS

After analysing the results of systematic experimental research on frost susceptibility tests, a new frost heave prediction model, including the heave ratio eta and rate R, is first proposed in this paper. Six main factors influencing frost heave are considered: initial water content W, initial dry unit weight gamma-d, frost penetration rate V(f), groundwater level H(W), plasticity index I(p) and ion content S. The model could be expressed by: eta = B0WB1-gamma-dB2VfB3. exp(B4HW)exp(B5Ip)exp(B6S) and R = B'0WB'1-gamma-dB'2exp(B'3Hw)exp(B'4Ip)exp(B'5S) with a good reliability, where B0 to B6 and B'0 to B'5 are the characteristic constants of clayey soils. The effect of each factor on frost susceptibility of soils is discussed also.