Thermal analysis and bearing capacity of piles embedded in frozen uniform soils

The objective of this research is the analysis of propagation of the thawing front in frozen soils induced by the periodical change of temperature acting on the top boundaries. This problem appears to be important in determination of the maximum depth of thawing zone arising around the piles. The negligence of the thawing depth in analysis of deep foundations embedded in frozen soils leads to excessive settlements and finally can result in very costly repairs of the structures. Consequently, this problem is very important in calculations of the bearing capacity of the piles supporting various structures (e.g. bridge structures). The formulation of the heat transfer problem including phase change for fixed domain is based on the law of conservation of energy. This law determines the weak form of the problem including all possible thermal boundary conditions. After the determination of the maximum depth of thaw defining the active layer, uplift or heaving forces that result from adfreezing on deep foundation in frozen soil are investigated. Laboratory experiments are conducted to estimate the adfreeze bond strength at the side of a pile in contact with a soil sample. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1994 .A85. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 34-02, page: 0815. Adviser: Barbara Budkowska. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1994