Ice-Soil Composites Created by Method of Cryotropic Gel Formation: A preliminary report of direct shear and permeability tests

摘要

This paper considers strengthening of both frozen soils and soils after thawing in ice-soil composites generated by the method of cryotropic gel formation. The properties of the frozen soils (ice-soil composites) have to be improved for example in order to create the reliable materials with low filtration factor for building weirs and other hydro engineering constructions, which operate under a wide range of temperatures, including positive temperatures. The application of this method is very promising in terms of creation of almost impermeable curtains for hydro engineering structures in cold regions. It is very important that such elements are safe in both frozen and thawing condition. The aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol are used for the formation of cryogels. This paper shows that the ice-soil composites, obtained by using the method of cryotropic gel formation, are sufficiently strong and watertight during thawing. Experimental data are given.