Reduction of Frost Heave by Surcharge Stress

Book excerpt: The results of a six-year field test program conducted near Fairbanks, AK, to investigate the reduction in frost heave obtained by applying a surcharge stress on the soil are presented. Seasonal heaves of 25-ft-square test sections with nominal surcharge loads of 2, 4, 6, and 8 psi were compared with heaves at adjacent unloaded sections. The test sections were on a silt soil in an area where permafrost existed at about a seven-ft depth. Results showed that only a small surcharge load was needed to cause significant reductions in heave. Data are included that indicate that heave reduction was achieved by minimizing groundwater migration. A method for correlating field and laboratory rate-of-heave data is suggested. (Author).