Influence of Temperature and Soil Thermal Expansion on Cracking of Dirt Road Surface During Seasonal Freezing

Abstract

Low-temperature cracks reduce the road surfaces quality, increase the cost of their repair. This problem is relevant in the regions with seasonal soil freezing. Analysis of the literature showed that, despite the large research work, the multidisciplinary problem of low-temperature cracking requires further research. In the present work, the object of study is a two-layer structure as a model of a straight section (segment) of an unpaved highway in the stage of seasonal freezing. Subject of research: the conditions for frost cracking in the upper layer of the road during seasonal freezing. Objective: to simulate the conditions for transverse cracking in the upper layer during seasonal freezing of the dirt road, taking into account the influence of temperature on the coefficient of thermal expansion. The paper presents a mathematical model of the frost cracks formation. The results of the modeling are consistent with data known in the literature. From a practical point of view, the results can be used to predict the state of logging roads at the stage of soil freezing in the off-season periods.