Influence of Route Direction on Thermal Field of Embankments Constructed in High-Altitude Permafrost Area

摘要

This paper discusses the effect of route direction, embankment height, and pavement type on the thermal field of embankments built in permafrost regions. A finite-element model (FEM) is adopted to simulate diverse conditions of the embankment. The 30-year meteorological data including the solar radiation, air temperature, and wind velocity are used as the boundary conditions for the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. The results obtained from the FEM calculations are found to be in good agreement with the actual measurements on the thermal field. Further, the results show that route direction has great impact on the equilibrium of the thermal field within embankments in permafrost regions. The thermal imbalance is more obvious for embankments in the east-west direction and less in the north-south direction. In addition, the thermal asymmetry is closely related to seasonal variation and it is more pronounced in winter and less in summer.