Earth’s Cryosphere, 2011, Vol. XV, No. 4, p. 41-45

SIMULATING ICE ACCUMULATION AND DEFORMATIONS ON GROUND FREEZING: A GENERALIZED THEORETICAL MODEL

J.B. Gorelik

Institute of Earth’s Cryosphere, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, PO box 1230, Tyumen, 625000, Russia; gorelik@ikz.ru

A single system of equations is suggested to simulate moisture transport responsible for segregated and injected ice accumulation and to calculate jointly the respective parameters and deformation in freezing ground. The system includes balance equations for heat and mass (water and soil skeleton) at the freezing front. Water fluxes for each mechanism are found with additional equations. The model allows predicting deformation patterns in surface foundations in the case of segregated ice accumulation and the percentage of mineral component in forming frozen structures for the case of injection. For the injection mechanism, there exists a critical water flux above which pure ice forms. The predicted parameters of injected ice accumulation agree with the field observations of the structure and composition of natural ice deposits, as well as with the results of specially designed laboratory experiments.

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