New Approach to the Design of Lightly Loaded Piles Under Adfreeze Action
Abstract
The foundations for soundwalls pose unique design challenges that require small and closely spaced piles. Due to their relatively short length, these piles are susceptible to seasonal ground freezing, which causes heave deformations that damage the soundwall. There remains a gap in understanding the behavior of lightly loaded foundations supporting these soundwalls in seasonally frozen areas. To address this, a laboratory-scale testing system was developed to investigate the behavior of H-piles under the cumulative effects of freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs). The study generated comprehensive data on soil and pile temperature, heave, and thawing dynamics, capturing evolving soil-pile interactions under varying FTCs. These results were used to establish model pile performance limits for both total and differential displacement. Recommendations are provided on the upper limits of frost-induced effects on the pile, highlighting the experiment's extreme conditions using silt soil, known for its heightened heave displacement compared to other soil types.