Heat and Mass Transfer by Vapour in Freezing Soils

Assel Sarsembayeva, Askar Zhussupbekov and Philip E. F. Collins
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Assel Sarsembayeva: Department of Structural Engineering, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Nur Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan
Askar Zhussupbekov: Department of Structural Engineering, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Nur Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan
Philip E. F. Collins: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Design & Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, UK

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Vapour mass transfer is often underestimated when designing the bases for structures in frost susceptible soils. Intensive and long-term vapour transport may lead to excessive frost heaving and associated issues. A vapour transport model and the algorithm of its calculation is presented in this study based on the results of experimental freeze–thaw cycles of nine soil samples with varied density. The temperature field distribution, air voids volume and the energy comprising latent heat for the phase transition and heat extracted during the temperature drop are the main parameters for determining the vapour velocity and the amount of ice formed. According to the results, the average speed of vapour transport in frozen soils was about 0.4 m/h. The amount of ice built in 1 h during uniaxial freezing due to the saturated vapour pressure difference was 1.64 × 10 −5 –3.6 × 10 − ⁵ g/h in loose samples and 1.41 × 10 − ⁶ g/h to 5.61 × 10 − ⁷ g/h in dense samples of 10 cm diameter and 10 cm high sections. The results show that vapour mass transfer can increase the risk of ice growth and related problems.

Keywords: freezing soils; frost heave; vapour transfer; cryosuction forces; ice lens formation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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