ABSTRACT
Based on numerical analysis, the temperature field and thawing depth of embankments with different width were analyzed, and the influences on the thermal stability of embankment by different protective measures were evaluated. The findings indicate that, the embankment construction has serious disturbance on the thermal stability of permafrost ground shown as obvious increasing of annual average ground temperature and maximum thawing depth, and embankment with larger width leads to worse thermal stability. Raising embankment height, setting crush stone layer or Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) layer can improve the thermal stability of embankment, however, the improvement is limited for wide embankment with width exceeding 26 m. Combination of crush stone layer and EPS layer has the best protective effects on the thermal stability of wide embankment and is recommended as a protective measure for wide embankment of expressway in permafrost regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
