Pub Date : 2025-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104761
Zhaohui Sun , Jiankun Liu , Wenbing Yu , Zhenyu Zhang , Xin Liu
Hybrid thermosyphons have shown promising results in artificial ground freezing and permafrost protection applications, but their high energy consumption remains a critical limitation for sustainable implementation. This paper presents a novel solar-assisted hybrid thermosyphon (SHT), which has three operating modes: active cooling, passive cooling, and hybrid cooling. Based on the thermal resistance method, the heat transfer model of the SHT is established, and a finite element calculation model is developed using a bridge pile foundation in the permafrost region as the research object. Numerical simulations show that SHT cools much better than traditional two-phase closed thermosyphons (TPCT), resulting in lower temperatures, faster cooling, and a wider cooling area throughout the year. The heat transfer performance of the SHT depends on both structural and operational parameters. The passive condensation section's thermal resistance (R1) decreases with higher wind speeds and larger thermosyphon diameters, while the active condensation section's resistance (R4) is positively correlated with the cooling tube diameter and negatively correlated with the thermosyphon diameter, refrigerant flow rate, and refrigerant temperature. For engineering applications, it is recommended to adjust the cooling effect by controlling the refrigerant temperature.
{"title":"Study on the cooling performance of hybrid thermosyphon: A case study of bridge pile foundations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau","authors":"Zhaohui Sun , Jiankun Liu , Wenbing Yu , Zhenyu Zhang , Xin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104761","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104761","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hybrid thermosyphons have shown promising results in artificial ground freezing and permafrost protection applications, but their high energy consumption remains a critical limitation for sustainable implementation. This paper presents a novel solar-assisted hybrid thermosyphon (SHT), which has three operating modes: active cooling, passive cooling, and hybrid cooling. Based on the thermal resistance method, the heat transfer model of the SHT is established, and a finite element calculation model is developed using a bridge pile foundation in the permafrost region as the research object. Numerical simulations show that SHT cools much better than traditional two-phase closed thermosyphons (TPCT), resulting in lower temperatures, faster cooling, and a wider cooling area throughout the year. The heat transfer performance of the SHT depends on both structural and operational parameters. The passive condensation section's thermal resistance (R<sub>1</sub>) decreases with higher wind speeds and larger thermosyphon diameters, while the active condensation section's resistance (R<sub>4</sub>) is positively correlated with the cooling tube diameter and negatively correlated with the thermosyphon diameter, refrigerant flow rate, and refrigerant temperature. For engineering applications, it is recommended to adjust the cooling effect by controlling the refrigerant temperature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104761"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145614640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104766
Tan Liling , Guo Ming , Yu Wenbing , Han Fenglei , Li Guo , Gao Meng
Amid global climate change, freeze-thaw cycles in cold regions have intensified, reducing the stability of infrastructures and significantly increasing the demand for grouting reinforcement. However, the deterioration in the durability of existing grouting materials under the combined effects of freeze-thaw cycles and low temperatures has become a major technical bottleneck restricting their application in cold regions. This paper focuses on polyurethane (PU) grouting materials with foaming and lifting characteristics, systematically reviewing the research progress and technical challenges associated with their engineering applications in cold regions. First, in terms of material composition and preparation, the core components and modified additives are detailed to establish a theoretical foundation for performance regulation. Second, addressing the application requirements in cold regions, standardized testing methods and comprehensive evaluation systems are summarized based on key indicators such as heat release temperature, impermeability, diffusion properties, mechanical strength, and expansion properties. Combined with microstructural characteristics, the deformation behavior and failure mechanisms of PU grouting materials under freeze-thaw cycles and salt-freezing environments are revealed. At the engineering application level, the challenges faced by PU grouting materials in cold regions—such as inhibited low-temperature reactivity and insufficient long-term durability—are highlighted. Finally, considering current research gaps, including the unclear mechanisms of microscopic dynamic evolution and the lack of studies on the combined effects of complex environments, future research directions are proposed. This paper aims to provide theoretical support for the development and application of PU grouting materials in cold-region geotechnical engineering.
{"title":"Polyurethane grouting materials for infrastructure reinforcement in cold regions: State of the art and perspectives","authors":"Tan Liling , Guo Ming , Yu Wenbing , Han Fenglei , Li Guo , Gao Meng","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amid global climate change, freeze-thaw cycles in cold regions have intensified, reducing the stability of infrastructures and significantly increasing the demand for grouting reinforcement. However, the deterioration in the durability of existing grouting materials under the combined effects of freeze-thaw cycles and low temperatures has become a major technical bottleneck restricting their application in cold regions. This paper focuses on polyurethane (PU) grouting materials with foaming and lifting characteristics, systematically reviewing the research progress and technical challenges associated with their engineering applications in cold regions. First, in terms of material composition and preparation, the core components and modified additives are detailed to establish a theoretical foundation for performance regulation. Second, addressing the application requirements in cold regions, standardized testing methods and comprehensive evaluation systems are summarized based on key indicators such as heat release temperature, impermeability, diffusion properties, mechanical strength, and expansion properties. Combined with microstructural characteristics, the deformation behavior and failure mechanisms of PU grouting materials under freeze-thaw cycles and salt-freezing environments are revealed. At the engineering application level, the challenges faced by PU grouting materials in cold regions—such as inhibited low-temperature reactivity and insufficient long-term durability—are highlighted. Finally, considering current research gaps, including the unclear mechanisms of microscopic dynamic evolution and the lack of studies on the combined effects of complex environments, future research directions are proposed. This paper aims to provide theoretical support for the development and application of PU grouting materials in cold-region geotechnical engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104766"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145614639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104757
Enzhao Xiao , Shengquan Li , Hao Wang , Biao Hu , Xueyuan Tang , Bo Sun , Fan Zhang , Yihe Wang
As a crucial infrastructure for Antarctic logistics support system, snow runways are constructed using compacted Antarctic snow. Therefore, analyzing the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of compacted Antarctic snow is essential for ensuring safe operation of snow runways. Previous studies conducted uniaxial compression tests on non-Antarctic snow, revealing that the mechanical behavior of snow was influenced by factors such as density, temperature and loading rate. In particular, loading rate significantly altered the failure mode of snow: low loading rates led to ductile failure, while high loading rates resulted in brittle failure. Although previous research has explored the effect of loading rate on the failure mode of snow, the ductile to brittle transition behavior of compacted Antarctic snow utilized in snow runway construction in Antarctica, as well as the corresponding sintering time effect have rarely been studied. This paper replicated the construction process of Antarctic snow runways in sample preparation, i.e., the procedure of crushing, sieving, compacting, and sintering of the natural Antarctic snow was followed. Uniaxial compression tests were then employed to investigate the effects of different loading rates, densities, and sintering times on the failure process of compacted Antarctic snow. The results indicated that under identical density and loading rate conditions, extending the sintering time from 3 to 18 h resulted in a 1–39 % strength increase, while prolongation to 48 h achieved a further 9–53 % improvement over the 18-h samples. When maintaining identical sintering time and loading rate conditions, increasing the snow density from 0.5 to 0.6 g/cm3 led to a significant strength increase (125–218 %). It was worth noting that under the same sintering time and density, as the compression rate increased from 1 × 10−4 s−1 to 1 × 10−2 s−1, the compressive strength of the snow samples decreased monotonically, which was different from previous studies utilizing non-Antarctic snow. Additionally, both the longitudinal and transverse deformation of the snow samples became more pronounced as the loading rate decreased, especially at low loading rates (1 × 10−4 s−1 and 5 × 10−4 s−1). This study facilitates the advancement of construction techniques and enhances operational safety for Antarctic snow runways.
{"title":"Experiment on ductile to brittle transition behavior of compacted Antarctic snow under uniaxial compression","authors":"Enzhao Xiao , Shengquan Li , Hao Wang , Biao Hu , Xueyuan Tang , Bo Sun , Fan Zhang , Yihe Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104757","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104757","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a crucial infrastructure for Antarctic logistics support system, snow runways are constructed using compacted Antarctic snow. Therefore, analyzing the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of compacted Antarctic snow is essential for ensuring safe operation of snow runways. Previous studies conducted uniaxial compression tests on non-Antarctic snow, revealing that the mechanical behavior of snow was influenced by factors such as density, temperature and loading rate. In particular, loading rate significantly altered the failure mode of snow: low loading rates led to ductile failure, while high loading rates resulted in brittle failure. Although previous research has explored the effect of loading rate on the failure mode of snow, the ductile to brittle transition behavior of compacted Antarctic snow utilized in snow runway construction in Antarctica, as well as the corresponding sintering time effect have rarely been studied. This paper replicated the construction process of Antarctic snow runways in sample preparation, i.e., the procedure of crushing, sieving, compacting, and sintering of the natural Antarctic snow was followed. Uniaxial compression tests were then employed to investigate the effects of different loading rates, densities, and sintering times on the failure process of compacted Antarctic snow. The results indicated that under identical density and loading rate conditions, extending the sintering time from 3 to 18 h resulted in a 1–39 % strength increase, while prolongation to 48 h achieved a further 9–53 % improvement over the 18-h samples. When maintaining identical sintering time and loading rate conditions, increasing the snow density from 0.5 to 0.6 g/cm<sup>3</sup> led to a significant strength increase (125–218 %). It was worth noting that under the same sintering time and density, as the compression rate increased from 1 × 10<sup>−4</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> to 1 × 10<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, the compressive strength of the snow samples decreased monotonically, which was different from previous studies utilizing non-Antarctic snow. Additionally, both the longitudinal and transverse deformation of the snow samples became more pronounced as the loading rate decreased, especially at low loading rates (1 × 10<sup>−4</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> and 5 × 10<sup>−4</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>). This study facilitates the advancement of construction techniques and enhances operational safety for Antarctic snow runways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104757"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145681511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104764
Jiawei Yang , Qiao Liu , Xueyuan Lu , Yongsheng Yin , Yunyi Luo
Accurate and efficient extraction of glacier extents is crucial for understanding the glacier's climatic response characteristics and timely evaluating the processes and impacts of glacier changes under a warming climate. The threshold-based segmentation method, as a simple and efficient extraction technique, has been widely applied in non-debris-covered glacier delineation. However, the presence of seasonal snow and water bodies, which exhibit reflectance characteristics similar to glacier ice in specific wavelength ranges, can lead to classification errors when traditional ice/snow indices are used for glacier boundary delineation. To improve the accuracy of glacier mapping, this study proposed a novel and simple ice/snow index, Whiteness Difference Index (WDI), based only on visible bands, which fully exploits the high reflectance of ice/snow in the visible bands and is specifically designed for mapping non-debris-covered glaciers. Time-series WDI maps, free from cloud and water body pixel contamination, were used to calculate the Snow Cover Frequency Index (SFI), which helps reduce errors caused by seasonal snow as its dynamic variations are characterized by lower frequency values. By applying the mapping algorithm to non-debris-covered glaciers in the Puruogangri Mountain using 2020 Landsat-8 images available on Google Earth Engine (GEE), the results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly reduces misclassifications caused by seasonal snow and water bodies. Compared with the result of manual delineation, this method achieves an area error of less than 1 % and higher accuracy scores (Kappa: 0.94; Overall Accuracy: 96.97 %). We also applied this method on the annual mapping of Puruogangri Ice Cap and successfully detected area changes and surging behavious of several glaciers in the region. And we assessed the transferability of the algorithm by applying it to additional major glaciated mountain regions and across different optical satellite sensors, thus demonstrating this method is suitable for non-debris-covered glacier mapping while maintaining high classification accuracy, providing an methodological support for regional glacier change analysis.
准确、高效地提取冰川范围对于了解冰川气候响应特征，及时评估气候变暖条件下冰川变化的过程和影响至关重要。基于阈值的分割方法作为一种简单、高效的提取方法，在非碎屑覆盖的冰川圈定中得到了广泛的应用。然而，季节性雪和水体在特定波长范围内表现出与冰川冰相似的反射率特征，在使用传统冰雪指数划定冰川边界时可能导致分类误差。为了提高冰川制图的精度，本研究提出了一种新的、简单的仅基于可见光波段的冰雪指数——白度差指数（white white Difference index， WDI），该指数充分利用了冰雪在可见光波段的高反射率，专门用于绘制非碎屑覆盖的冰川。利用不受云和水体像元污染的时间序列WDI地图计算积雪频率指数（Snow Cover Frequency Index， SFI），由于其动态变化具有频率值较低的特点，有助于减少季节性积雪带来的误差。利用谷歌Earth Engine （GEE）提供的2020年Landsat-8影像，将该算法应用于普若岗日山非碎屑覆盖冰川，结果表明，该方法显著降低了季节性积雪和水体造成的误分类。与人工圈定结果相比，该方法的区域误差小于1%，精度得分更高（Kappa: 0.94；总体精度：96.97%）。我们还将该方法应用于普若岗日冰盖的年度制图，并成功地检测了该地区几个冰川的面积变化和涌动行为。通过将该算法应用于其他主要冰川山区和不同光学卫星传感器，评估了该算法的可移植性，从而证明该方法适用于非碎屑覆盖的冰川制图，同时保持较高的分类精度，为区域冰川变化分析提供了方法支持。
{"title":"A novel optical satellite based non-debris-covered glacier mapping based on visible reflectance characteristics of ice and snow","authors":"Jiawei Yang , Qiao Liu , Xueyuan Lu , Yongsheng Yin , Yunyi Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate and efficient extraction of glacier extents is crucial for understanding the glacier's climatic response characteristics and timely evaluating the processes and impacts of glacier changes under a warming climate. The threshold-based segmentation method, as a simple and efficient extraction technique, has been widely applied in non-debris-covered glacier delineation. However, the presence of seasonal snow and water bodies, which exhibit reflectance characteristics similar to glacier ice in specific wavelength ranges, can lead to classification errors when traditional ice/snow indices are used for glacier boundary delineation. To improve the accuracy of glacier mapping, this study proposed a novel and simple ice/snow index, Whiteness Difference Index (WDI), based only on visible bands, which fully exploits the high reflectance of ice/snow in the visible bands and is specifically designed for mapping non-debris-covered glaciers. Time-series WDI maps, free from cloud and water body pixel contamination, were used to calculate the Snow Cover Frequency Index (SFI), which helps reduce errors caused by seasonal snow as its dynamic variations are characterized by lower frequency values. By applying the mapping algorithm to non-debris-covered glaciers in the Puruogangri Mountain using 2020 Landsat-8 images available on Google Earth Engine (GEE), the results demonstrate that the proposed method significantly reduces misclassifications caused by seasonal snow and water bodies. Compared with the result of manual delineation, this method achieves an area error of less than 1 % and higher accuracy scores (Kappa: 0.94; Overall Accuracy: 96.97 %). We also applied this method on the annual mapping of Puruogangri Ice Cap and successfully detected area changes and surging behavious of several glaciers in the region. And we assessed the transferability of the algorithm by applying it to additional major glaciated mountain regions and across different optical satellite sensors, thus demonstrating this method is suitable for non-debris-covered glacier mapping while maintaining high classification accuracy, providing an methodological support for regional glacier change analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104764"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104760
Keji Li , Mingyi Zhang , Guoqiang Wang , Wenwu Chen , Weibo Liu , Haoyuan Jiang , Zhengyi Wang
Lined canals, serving as the core structures in water diversion and transfer projects, constitute the crucial components of hydraulic engineering in cold regions. The environmental and climatic conditions in cold regions are complex. These conditions often lead to various frost heave damages to canal linings. Common issues include cracks, heaving, bulges, and voids. In some cases, instability and sliding collapse also occur. These damages significantly reduce the water conveyance efficiency of the projects and compromise the performance of canal systems. This paper systematically reviews the frost heave damage in lined canals in cold regions, encompassing manifestations and characteristics of the damage, influencing factors, formation mechanisms, theoretical models, as well as prevention and mitigation techniques. Firstly, the principal influencing factors of frost heave damage are summarized, with particular emphasis on the effects of subsoil properties, moisture conditions, temperature conditions, and canal intrinsic factors. Secondly, the occurrence and development process of frost heave damage is described based on the structural strength of canal linings and the soil-structure interaction between foundation soils and canal structures. Subsequently, the development process of soil frost heave theories and computational models for canal frost heave is reviewed based on existing studies that utilize laboratory experimentation, field monitoring, mechanical theoretical analysis, and hydro-thermal-mechanical (HTM) coupled numerical modeling. Finally, current anti-frost heave technical measures are synthesized, including thermal insulation, waterproofing and drainage, and replacement of foundation soil, with targeted mitigation strategies proposed for diverse operational scenarios. On this basis, the paper also points out the future research priorities, with specific focus on differential frost heave behaviors under varying environmental conditions, the further improvement of frost heave theories, and the development of innovative prevention and mitigation techniques, ultimately aiming to inform the scientific design and safe, efficient operation of water conveyance systems in cold regions.
{"title":"Frost heave damage in lined canals in cold regions - A review","authors":"Keji Li , Mingyi Zhang , Guoqiang Wang , Wenwu Chen , Weibo Liu , Haoyuan Jiang , Zhengyi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104760","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104760","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lined canals, serving as the core structures in water diversion and transfer projects, constitute the crucial components of hydraulic engineering in cold regions. The environmental and climatic conditions in cold regions are complex. These conditions often lead to various frost heave damages to canal linings. Common issues include cracks, heaving, bulges, and voids. In some cases, instability and sliding collapse also occur. These damages significantly reduce the water conveyance efficiency of the projects and compromise the performance of canal systems. This paper systematically reviews the frost heave damage in lined canals in cold regions, encompassing manifestations and characteristics of the damage, influencing factors, formation mechanisms, theoretical models, as well as prevention and mitigation techniques. Firstly, the principal influencing factors of frost heave damage are summarized, with particular emphasis on the effects of subsoil properties, moisture conditions, temperature conditions, and canal intrinsic factors. Secondly, the occurrence and development process of frost heave damage is described based on the structural strength of canal linings and the soil-structure interaction between foundation soils and canal structures. Subsequently, the development process of soil frost heave theories and computational models for canal frost heave is reviewed based on existing studies that utilize laboratory experimentation, field monitoring, mechanical theoretical analysis, and hydro-thermal-mechanical (HTM) coupled numerical modeling. Finally, current anti-frost heave technical measures are synthesized, including thermal insulation, waterproofing and drainage, and replacement of foundation soil, with targeted mitigation strategies proposed for diverse operational scenarios. On this basis, the paper also points out the future research priorities, with specific focus on differential frost heave behaviors under varying environmental conditions, the further improvement of frost heave theories, and the development of innovative prevention and mitigation techniques, ultimately aiming to inform the scientific design and safe, efficient operation of water conveyance systems in cold regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104760"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145614700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Saline soils in cold and arid regions are highly vulnerable to water-salt migration, frost heave, and salt heave under freeze-thaw cycles, posing significant threats to subgrade stability. This study investigated the barrier effects of geotextile layers on water–salt migration through soil column tests with varying geotextile types and initial salt contents. Temperature, water content, electrical conductivity, and microstructure were comprehensively analyzed. Results indicate that geotextile layers effectively delayed the downward movement of the freezing front and suppressed upward migration of water and salt by forming thermal resistance and capillary barriers. Among the tested materials, the polypropylene geotextile with 200 g/m2 unit area (PP2) showed the strongest barrier performance, reducing surface salt content by 66.7 % owing to its lower permeability and stronger hydrophobicity. Water-salt migration was most intense when the initial salt content ranged from 3.22 % to 3.60 %, suggesting that single-layer barriers in this range carry a high risk and require reinforcement measures to mitigate subgrade damage. Microstructural observations further confirmed that PP2 effectively restricted crack development and preserved pore stability under freeze-thaw cycles. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing the selection and structural design of barrier materials in saline soil subgrades in cold and arid regions.
{"title":"Barrier effects and micro-mechanisms of geotextile layers on water-salt migration in saline soils under freeze-thaw cycles","authors":"Junli Gao, Panwei Ren, Feiyu Liu, Zili Dai, Chang Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Saline soils in cold and arid regions are highly vulnerable to water-salt migration, frost heave, and salt heave under freeze-thaw cycles, posing significant threats to subgrade stability. This study investigated the barrier effects of geotextile layers on water–salt migration through soil column tests with varying geotextile types and initial salt contents. Temperature, water content, electrical conductivity, and microstructure were comprehensively analyzed. Results indicate that geotextile layers effectively delayed the downward movement of the freezing front and suppressed upward migration of water and salt by forming thermal resistance and capillary barriers. Among the tested materials, the polypropylene geotextile with 200 g/m<sup>2</sup> unit area (PP2) showed the strongest barrier performance, reducing surface salt content by 66.7 % owing to its lower permeability and stronger hydrophobicity. Water-salt migration was most intense when the initial salt content ranged from 3.22 % to 3.60 %, suggesting that single-layer barriers in this range carry a high risk and require reinforcement measures to mitigate subgrade damage. Microstructural observations further confirmed that PP2 effectively restricted crack development and preserved pore stability under freeze-thaw cycles. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing the selection and structural design of barrier materials in saline soil subgrades in cold and arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104759"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104758
Jiawei Zhai , Shibing Huang , Luobin Zheng , Lichen Li , Yonglong Yang , Qibiao Wei
The reduction in the shear strength of frozen coarse-grained soil (CGS) slopes during the warming process has led to many landslide disasters in cold regions. In this study, a series of direct shear tests were conducted to explore the effect of sand content and freezing temperature on the shear strength of CGS. The test results show that the CGS displays strain softening characteristics at freezing status and strain hardening characteristics at a room temperature. With the increase of freezing temperature, the brittleness of samples decreases while the plasticity increases. As the freezing temperature rises from −15 °C to −1 °C, the shear strength of CGS rapidly decreases by a maximum value of 71 %. A key finding is that the reduction in shear strength with increasing temperature is primarily attributed to a decrease in cohesion, while changes in the internal friction angle are negligible. Cohesion decreases sharply from 1.49 MPa at −15 °C to 0.057 MPa at 25 °C. Furthermore, the effect of sand content on strength parameters depends on temperature: at low freezing temperatures, higher sand content enhances cohesion, but at room temperatures it reduces cohesion. In all cases, the internal friction angle increases with sand content. This study can provide a better understanding of the shear strength degradation mechanism of CGS with different sand contents and related warming landslides in cold regions.
{"title":"Experimental investigation on the shear strength variation of frozen coarse-grained soil considering sand content and temperature effects","authors":"Jiawei Zhai , Shibing Huang , Luobin Zheng , Lichen Li , Yonglong Yang , Qibiao Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104758","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104758","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The reduction in the shear strength of frozen coarse-grained soil (CGS) slopes during the warming process has led to many landslide disasters in cold regions. In this study, a series of direct shear tests were conducted to explore the effect of sand content and freezing temperature on the shear strength of CGS. The test results show that the CGS displays strain softening characteristics at freezing status and strain hardening characteristics at a room temperature. With the increase of freezing temperature, the brittleness of samples decreases while the plasticity increases. As the freezing temperature rises from −15 °C to −1 °C, the shear strength of CGS rapidly decreases by a maximum value of 71 %. A key finding is that the reduction in shear strength with increasing temperature is primarily attributed to a decrease in cohesion, while changes in the internal friction angle are negligible. Cohesion decreases sharply from 1.49 MPa at −15 °C to 0.057 MPa at 25 °C. Furthermore, the effect of sand content on strength parameters depends on temperature: at low freezing temperatures, higher sand content enhances cohesion, but at room temperatures it reduces cohesion. In all cases, the internal friction angle increases with sand content. This study can provide a better understanding of the shear strength degradation mechanism of CGS with different sand contents and related warming landslides in cold regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104758"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145614701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104741
Anna Siebenbrunner , Robert Delleske , Rolf-Ole Rydeng Jenssen , Markus Keuschnig
This study explores the potential of unoccupied aerial vehicle- (UAV-) borne ground penetrating radar (GPR) for high-resolution, slope-scale snow depth monitoring in challenging alpine environments to advance current methods of assessing the avalanche formation probability. To ensure accuracy under varying flight conditions, we systematically examined how UAV altitude and orientation influenced radar backscatter, assessing the necessity for altitude-based power calibration. These experiments revealed the impact of flight dynamics on signal return and helped refine data processing in complex terrain. Field campaigns were conducted across various sites in the Austrian Alps over two winter seasons, comparing GPR data with traditional reference measurements. Results revealed a strong correlation between GPR-derived and probe-measured snow depth (, ), demonstrating the reliability of the UAV-borne GPR method. Additionally, our findings highlight substantial small-scale variability in snow depth, even over short distances, underscoring the limitations of conventional point-scale observations. The UAV-borne GPR system used in this study features minimal deployment complexity, relying on off-the-shelf components, making it accessible to both scientists and practitioners. By providing high-resolution snow depth mapping, it complements fixed weather stations and significantly enhances traditional in situ observations as well as air- and spaceborne snow depth products. This method offers a safer, more efficient, and more detailed approach to data acquisition, with the potential to enhance avalanche monitoring and forecasting while contributing to improved safety measures in alpine environments.
{"title":"Towards slope-scale assessment of avalanche formation: Exploring UAV-borne GPR for unveiling spatial snowpack variability","authors":"Anna Siebenbrunner , Robert Delleske , Rolf-Ole Rydeng Jenssen , Markus Keuschnig","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104741","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the potential of unoccupied aerial vehicle- (UAV-) borne ground penetrating radar (GPR) for high-resolution, slope-scale snow depth monitoring in challenging alpine environments to advance current methods of assessing the avalanche formation probability. To ensure accuracy under varying flight conditions, we systematically examined how UAV altitude and orientation influenced radar backscatter, assessing the necessity for altitude-based power calibration. These experiments revealed the impact of flight dynamics on signal return and helped refine data processing in complex terrain. Field campaigns were conducted across various sites in the Austrian Alps over two winter seasons, comparing GPR data with traditional reference measurements. Results revealed a strong correlation between GPR-derived and probe-measured snow depth (<span><math><mrow><msup><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>94</mn></mrow></math></span>, <span><math><mrow><mi>r</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>.</mo><mn>97</mn></mrow></math></span>), demonstrating the reliability of the UAV-borne GPR method. Additionally, our findings highlight substantial small-scale variability in snow depth, even over short distances, underscoring the limitations of conventional point-scale observations. The UAV-borne GPR system used in this study features minimal deployment complexity, relying on off-the-shelf components, making it accessible to both scientists and practitioners. By providing high-resolution snow depth mapping, it complements fixed weather stations and significantly enhances traditional in situ observations as well as air- and spaceborne snow depth products. This method offers a safer, more efficient, and more detailed approach to data acquisition, with the potential to enhance avalanche monitoring and forecasting while contributing to improved safety measures in alpine environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104741"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-16DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104756
Hongbo Zhang , Weixing Bao , Jie Li , Puerhaiti Ainiwaer , Xiaodong Li , Cheng Yuan , Xiaolin Guan
This study aims to evaluate the mechanisms of mechanical property changes and the internal damage deformation mechanism of warm permafrost under conditions with moisture contents ranging from ultra-high (25 % and 50 %) to low (8 % and 13.3 %). Triaxial compression tests were performed under three characteristic moisture content conditions at −0.3 °C, −0.7 °C, and − 1.2 °C, and at the confining pressures of 0.05 MPa, 0.15 MPa, and 0.3 MPa. The test results showed that the samples' moisture contents of 8 % and 13.3 % (saturation) exhibited strain-softening behaviour, with the 8 % moisture content samples demonstrating more pronounced strain-softening effects. The 25 % and 50 % moisture content samples displayed strain-hardening behaviour and exhibited the characteristic of the initial modulus rapidly dropping to a lower stable value, while the strength and residual strength for each moisture content showed a linear increase with decreasing temperature and increasing confining pressure. Variations in initial moisture content and dry density affected the internal bonding structure and skeletal framework of warm permafrost, and the internal bonding structure and skeletal composition determined the upper and lower strength limits, respectively. The impacts of temperature, confining pressure, and initial moisture content on modulus varied considerably. As the initial moisture content increased, warm permafrost transitioned from brittle shear to plastic bulging failure. In addition, the structural properties, deformation behaviour, and failure mechanisms of warm permafrost varied considerably with changes in the moisture content. Confining pressure and temperature influenced the mechanical damage, deformation, and failure behaviour of warm permafrost through distinct mechanisms. A more versatile nonlinear elastic damage model was developed based on the specific damage-deformation characteristics of warm permafrost. The prediction model yielded results that agreed closely with the experimental data.
{"title":"Mechanical characteristics and constitutive elastic damage modelling of warm frozen silty sand with different moisture contents","authors":"Hongbo Zhang , Weixing Bao , Jie Li , Puerhaiti Ainiwaer , Xiaodong Li , Cheng Yuan , Xiaolin Guan","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to evaluate the mechanisms of mechanical property changes and the internal damage deformation mechanism of warm permafrost under conditions with moisture contents ranging from ultra-high (25 % and 50 %) to low (8 % and 13.3 %). Triaxial compression tests were performed under three characteristic moisture content conditions at −0.3 °C, −0.7 °C, and − 1.2 °C, and at the confining pressures of 0.05 MPa, 0.15 MPa, and 0.3 MPa. The test results showed that the samples' moisture contents of 8 % and 13.3 % (saturation) exhibited strain-softening behaviour, with the 8 % moisture content samples demonstrating more pronounced strain-softening effects. The 25 % and 50 % moisture content samples displayed strain-hardening behaviour and exhibited the characteristic of the initial modulus rapidly dropping to a lower stable value, while the strength and residual strength for each moisture content showed a linear increase with decreasing temperature and increasing confining pressure. Variations in initial moisture content and dry density affected the internal bonding structure and skeletal framework of warm permafrost, and the internal bonding structure and skeletal composition determined the upper and lower strength limits, respectively. The impacts of temperature, confining pressure, and initial moisture content on modulus varied considerably. As the initial moisture content increased, warm permafrost transitioned from brittle shear to plastic bulging failure. In addition, the structural properties, deformation behaviour, and failure mechanisms of warm permafrost varied considerably with changes in the moisture content. Confining pressure and temperature influenced the mechanical damage, deformation, and failure behaviour of warm permafrost through distinct mechanisms. A more versatile nonlinear elastic damage model was developed based on the specific damage-deformation characteristics of warm permafrost. The prediction model yielded results that agreed closely with the experimental data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104756"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-14DOI: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104755
Lihua Chen , Yanjun Che , Yun Cao , Mingjun Zhang , Lailei Gu , Shijin Wang
As an important part of the glaciated region on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the western part of the Kunlun Mountains has mainly been studied, while little research has been conducted in the eastern part of the Kunlun Mountains due to its harsh environment and poor accessibility. In this study, the Ulugh Muztagh region of the largest glaciated region in the eastern Kunlun Mountains was selected as the study area to estimate the changes in the glaciers, glacial lakes, and local climate. The outlines of the glaciers and glacial lakes were manually extracted to obtain an accurate glacier inventory, and the characteristics of these glaciers and glacial lakes during 1990–2020 were analyzed. The results revealed that there were 245 glaciers and 16 glacial lakes in 1990 and 2020. During this period, the glacier area decreased by 7.95 ± 1.26 km2 and the glacial lake area decreased by 0.24 km2. The area of these glaciers exhibited a slight retreat, and the area of the glacial lakes shrank by 7.2 km2. The number of glacial lakes exhibited a fluctuating increasing trend. Two glacial lake outbursts occurred in an ice-dammed lake in the northwestern part of Ulugh Muztagh during 1998–2002, exhibiting a periodic outburst pattern. In addition, the recession of the glaciers in contact with glacial lakes was more significant than that of the glaciers not in contact with glacial lakes. The significant increase in summer precipitation was a main driving factor in the evolution of the glacial lakes. The slight retreat of the glaciers in this region did not exhibit a significant correlation with the summer air temperature, but it did exhibit a correlation with the precipitation.
{"title":"Glacier and glacial lake evolution in response to local climate forcing: A quantitative assessment in Ulugh Muztagh, Eastern Kunlun Mountains","authors":"Lihua Chen , Yanjun Che , Yun Cao , Mingjun Zhang , Lailei Gu , Shijin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104755","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104755","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As an important part of the glaciated region on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the western part of the Kunlun Mountains has mainly been studied, while little research has been conducted in the eastern part of the Kunlun Mountains due to its harsh environment and poor accessibility. In this study, the Ulugh Muztagh region of the largest glaciated region in the eastern Kunlun Mountains was selected as the study area to estimate the changes in the glaciers, glacial lakes, and local climate. The outlines of the glaciers and glacial lakes were manually extracted to obtain an accurate glacier inventory, and the characteristics of these glaciers and glacial lakes during 1990–2020 were analyzed. The results revealed that there were 245 glaciers and 16 glacial lakes in 1990 and 2020. During this period, the glacier area decreased by 7.95 ± 1.26 km<sup>2</sup> and the glacial lake area decreased by 0.24 km<sup>2</sup>. The area of these glaciers exhibited a slight retreat, and the area of the glacial lakes shrank by 7.2 km<sup>2</sup>. The number of glacial lakes exhibited a fluctuating increasing trend. Two glacial lake outbursts occurred in an ice-dammed lake in the northwestern part of Ulugh Muztagh during 1998–2002, exhibiting a periodic outburst pattern. In addition, the recession of the glaciers in contact with glacial lakes was more significant than that of the glaciers not in contact with glacial lakes. The significant increase in summer precipitation was a main driving factor in the evolution of the glacial lakes. The slight retreat of the glaciers in this region did not exhibit a significant correlation with the summer air temperature, but it did exhibit a correlation with the precipitation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 104755"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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