A Study on Freezing Characteristics of Terra Nova Bay Soil in East Antarctica

摘要

Soil samples taken at Terra Nova Bay (74° 37'S, 164° 12'E) in the East Antarctic where Korea's new Antarctic base (Jangbogo Station) will be built was transported to a laboratory in Korea. Experimental tests were carried for the soil freezing characteristics such as thermal conductivity, unfrozen water content, and unconfined compression strength. An experimental identification of the variation of thermal conductivity, unfrozen water content, and unconfined compression strength tests was conducted while decreasing the temperature of specimens up to below zero. Based on the result, the correlation of thermal conductivity - unfrozen water and unfrozen water - freezing strength was evaluated. Although the result from the lab test might have a limit in directly identifying the ground structure, the freezing characteristics and the climatic environment of the Antarctica are important for investigating the soil freezing characteristics of the site for the construction of a new antarctic research base.