Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Groundwater Seepage on the Active Freezing and Forced Thawing Temperature Fields of a New Tube–Screen Freezing Method

Jixun Ren, Yongwei Wang, Tao Wang, Jun Hu (), Kai Wei and Yanshao Guo
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Jixun Ren: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Yongwei Wang: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Tao Wang: State Key Laboratory for GeoMechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Jun Hu: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Kai Wei: China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation Limited First Engineering Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710016, China
Yanshao Guo: China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation Limited First Engineering Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710016, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-20

Abstract: To more comprehensively explore the mechanism of the active freezing and thawing process of a new tube–curtain freezing method in construction, the temperature field of the new tube–curtain freezing process is analyzed using finite element software to establish a numerical model. Six paths were set up upstream and downstream of the model and around the top steel tube to analyze the development of frozen soil curtains during active freezing and forced thawing. The results show that, due to the effect of seepage, the cold energy generated by the upstream frozen pipe will be carried to downstream by water, which leads to the asymmetry of the frozen soil curtain. A greater seepage rate leads to a more pronounced the influence on the development of the temperature field. During the process of forced thawing, the first 15 days of the frozen soil curtain heating rate are fastest; thus, it is necessary to monitor the thawing settlement intensively during this period. By comparing different heads of water and different forced thawing temperatures, it was found that a bigger head of water results in a longer thawing time. At a constant head of water, a higher thawing temperature results in a shorter thawing time, with the thawing time at 50 °C being about 0.5 times that at 5 °C. Low-temperature thawing can be chosen to control the cost; however, when the head of water is large, high-temperature thawing can significantly shorten the thawing time. In addition, the new tube–curtain freezing method has little influence on the surrounding environment, along with a short construction period and low construction cost, in accordance with the concept of sustainable development.

Keywords: tube–curtain freezing method; seepage; artificial ground freezing; thawing temperature field; undersea tunnel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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