Influences of gravel refilling on temperature fields of runway foundation soils in permafrost regions under a warming climate: a case study of the Mohe airport, northern Heilongjiang province, Northeast China

doi:10.12006/j.issn.1673-1719.2023.216

Abstract

Abstract:

Under a warming climate, frost hazards have become increasingly more frequent in permafrost regions in North of Northeast China. In the studies of engineering design, construction and operation/maintenance in permafrost regions, research on the ground temperature fields of engineered foundations is key to analyzing and solving problems due to frost hazards. In this paper, the finite element method was used to investigate the impacts of refilling of clean gravels on the ground temperature fields of runway foundation soils, and to predict the temperature fields of the foundation soils under the runway over a 30-year period of runway operation. The results indicate that the gravel refilling of runway foundation soils can significantly increase the maximum-depth of seasonal frost-penetration (MSF). The horizontal thermal influence of the refilling on the MSF of the foundation would extend laterally to about 30 m at each side. Then, by comparing the changes in ground temperature fields of the foundation structures with different refilling depths (1.5 (top of the refill) to 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 (bottom) m), it is found that the rate of change in MSF would gradually decrease when the bottom of refilling depth reaches 4.5 m. Finally, by simulating the values of MSF under no-refilling and different filling depths for different climate warming rates over the next 100 years as indicated by the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is found that by 2100, the MSF under the SSP2-4.5 scenario would be 1.63, 1.86, 1.84, 1.84 and 1.84 m, respectively. Therefore, when using the refilling of clean gravels to mitigate frost hazards of runway foundation soils, the refilling bottom depth should be no smaller than 4.5 m. At the same time, the well-managed construction and good maintenance of drainage and/or barrier facilities for surface and subsurface waters near the runway should be considered in cases of abnormally rainy and/or snowy summers and falls. This study is helpful to understand the influences of gravel refilling on the thermal state of permafrost foundation soils, and can provide an important scientific basis for solving the problems of frost heave and thaw settlement of runway foundation soils in permafrost areas.

Key words: Permafrost, Airport runway, Ground temperature, Maximum-depth of seasonal frost-penetration (MSF), Numerical model simulation

WANG Jiao-Jiao, ZHANG Hu, JIN Xiao-Ying, HUANG Shuai, WANG Hong-Wei, WANG Wen-Hui, ZHAN Tao, ZHOU Gang-Yi, CHE Fu-Qiang, LI Yan, LI Xin-Yu, HE Rui-Xia, ZHANG Ze, ZHANG Sheng-Rong, LI Guo-Yu, TONG Chang-Jiang, WANG Xun, JIN Hui-Jun. Influences of gravel refilling on temperature fields of runway foundation soils in permafrost regions under a warming climate: a case study of the Mohe airport, northern Heilongjiang province, Northeast China[J]. Climate Change Research, 2024, 20(3): 291-303.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig. 1 Location of boreholes for monitoring ground temperatures in the Mohe airport in regions of the Xing’an-Baikal permafrost in Northeast China

Fig. 2 Geometric model of the foundation structure and division of computational grids of the runway cross-sectional profile in the Mohe airport, northern Heilongjiang province

Table 1 Thermophysical parameters of soils of pavement structures in the Mohe airport runway areas [30??-33]

Table 2 Thermophysical parameters of foundation soils in the Mohe airport runway areas [30??-33]

Table 3 Temperature boundary condition parameters for different road surface types in the Mohe airport runway areas[28,36]

Fig. 3 Comparisons of simulated and measured values of ground temperatures under natural surface and cement concrete pavement in the Mohe airport runway areas

Fig. 4 Isotherms of ground temperatures of the un-refilled foundation soils for the 30th year of runway operation in the Mohe airport. (a) January, (b) April, (c) July, and (d) October

Fig. 5 Isotherms of ground temperatures of the clean-gravel-refilled foundations for the 30th year of runway operation in the Mohe airport. (a) January, (b) April, (c) July, and (d) October

Fig. 6 Variations in the maximum-depth of seasonal frost-penetration (MSF) with operational time of the Mohe airport at 10, 20, and 30 m in horizontal distance away from the centerline of the runway

Fig. 7 Burial depths of 0℃ isotherms of runway foundation soils with different refilling depths and in the Mohe airport

Fig. 8 The MSF under the centerline of the runway foundation at different refilling depths at the Mohe airport

Fig. 9 The MSF under the centerline of the runway foundation at different refilling depths under various warming scenarios

Fig. 10 Schematic diagram of water migration in foundation soils without (a) and with (b) refills under the runway in the Mohe airport

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