Lateral deformation of freezing clay under triaxial stress condition using laser-measuring device

A device has been developed to obtain the deformation that is normal to the heat flow of a freezing cylindrical soil specimen under triaxial stress condition. Deformation due to freezing is precisely scaled according to the time, measuring the displacement of the radius of specimen from outside of the pressure cell using a laser displacement sensor and a stepping motor. The shrinkage of the unfrozen part adjacent to the frozen fringe is clearly observed, which could be caused by the consolidation due to the suction produced during freezing. The vertical and lateral frost heave strains are related to the stress ratio applied during freezing. The experimental results of the deformation without water intake for the duration of freezing are compared to those with water supplied, and the water volume is estimated which contributes to the lateral deformation of specimen. The results described here can be used to give a correct interpretation on simulating the natural or artificial ground freezing and understanding confined frost heave deformation in the laboratory.