A Study of Some Factors Affecting the Thawing of Frozen Soils

Abstract

An analysis of the engineering behavior of a thawing soil requires knowledge of the rate of melting. Some solutions for heat transfer in thawing soils are reviewed. The relative importance of the thermal properties necessary for solution is assessed and some properties of frozen soil are found to be of secondary importance in a thawing problem. Some practical simplifications of the Neumann problem are considered and sample solutions are presented.Research into the geotechnical characteristics of thawing soil is suggested to be more relevant than continuing research on thermal properties.