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.
