In situ observation of cracks in frozen soil using synchrotron tomography

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

BHREASAIL, Á.N.

Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College, London, Royaume-Uni

LEE, P.D.

School of Materials, Univ., Manchester, Royaume-Uni

O'SULLIVAN, C.

Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College, London, Royaume-Uni

FENTON, C.H.

Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College, London, Royaume-Uni

HAMILTON, R.

Dep. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College, London, Royaume-Uni

ROCKETT, P.

School of Materials, Univ., Manchester, Royaume-Uni

CONNOLLEY, T.

Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Royaume-Uni

Description :
Phase-contrast synchrotron micro-computed tomography (μCT) is well suited to studying the microstructure of frozen soil. A miniature temperature-controlled oedometer was used to apply repeated freeze-thaw cycles to water-saturated samples of Leighton Buzzard sand, Reigate sand and spherical glass ballotini (an idealised soil). High-resolution images were obtained using a monochromatic, parallel beam of x-rays generated on Beamline I12 of the Diamond synchrotron. Cracking in the ice was directly measured utilising the phase-contrast fringes generated by ice-air interfaces. Examination of these images revealed two modes of crack formation in the ice phase of frozen soil. Both crack types were orientated parallel to the freezing front (normal to the heat flow), affecting both the frozen soils' mechanical behaviour, and the AA. hypothesise that these cracks are potential initiation sites for ice lens development.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2012, vol. 23, n°. 2, p. 170-176, nombre de pages : 7, Références bibliographiques : 33 ref.

Date :
2012

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais