ABSTRACT
As part of Delft Cluster project DC 01.02.02 frost heave tests have been performed on Boom Clay, Zuidpolder Clay, Holland Peat and Westerschelde Sand.
The main reason why these soils have been tested on their frost susceptibility is that in these Dutch soil types major civil projects are foreseen or have already been constructed. The constructors have the option to apply the technique of Artificial Ground Freezing (AGF) to give the soil a (temporary) higher stiffness and to make it impermeable. As AGF is not common in the Netherlands, very little was known on how the clay and peat would behave when it was exposed to freezing and thawing. It was decided to test “real” soil samples and not artificially made soil samples, which are much more homogenous.
The main results will be presented in term of frost heave, residual settlement and segregation potential. It appeared that none of the soils was very susceptible for freezing, although the heterogeneous Zuidpolder Clay showed some high values. Measured segregation potentials ranged from zero to about 1.6mm2/°Chr. The results have been incorporated in and verified with DIANA Finite Element code.
