Warming and its effects on foundations for northern infrastructure

变暖及其对北方基础设施基础的影响

• 批准号: 238313-2011
• 负责人: Alfaro, Marolo
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: University of Manitoba
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=570392
• 关键词: Warming; its; effects; foundations; northern

Construction of civil engineering infrastructure in northern Canada usually removes vegetation cover, affects snow cover, increases heat transfer, changes drainage pattern, and therefore contributes to thawing of permafrost. Climate warming also contributes to thawing of permafrost. Thawing, either as a result of climate warming or construction activities, can produce large settlements and serviceability issues for buildings, airport runways, railway beds, highway embankments, river crossings, and hydroelectric facilities. Thawing permafrost and expanding infrastructure systems require improved designs, construction, and maintenance. Understanding the stress-strain characteristics of warming soils is essential in predicting the performance of foundations, and subsequently in mitigating failing foundations for northern infrastructure. This research will use laboratory testing methods to investigate the effects of temperature on mechanical, thermal, and flow properties of soils. Particular emphasis is placed on highly plastic clays and peats found frequently in northern Canada. Predictive tools in climate warming developed by scientists will be used in predicting ground temperatures and their effects on soil properties and foundation performance. The research will develop conceptual numerical models to simulate the warming effects on soil properties. Laboratory testing and numerical modeling techniques will be used as a means of explaining monitored field behaviour. Two available instrumented test sites provide a database of field performance and allow validation of the newly developed numerical model. The research will predict and mitigate excessive deformations and instabilities of northern infrastructure using validated and fine-tuned numerical models. It will develop mitigation measures for consideration in future design guidelines, which will include adaptation strategies for infrastructure impacted by climate change. This research is important and relevant for climate change 'impacts and adaptation strategies' for northern infrastructure and the delivery of 'clean' energy from northern to southern markets.

加拿大北部的土木工程基础设施建设通常会去除植被覆盖，影响积雪覆盖，增加热量传递，改变排水模式，因此有助于永久冻土的融化。气候变暖也有助于永久冻土的融化。由于气候变暖或建筑活动造成的融化，可能会造成建筑物、机场跑道、铁路路基、高速公路路堤、河流过境点和水力发电设施的大量定居点和可维护性问题。解冻永久冻土和扩大基础设施系统需要改进设计、施工和维护。了解变暖土壤的应力-应变特征对于预测地基的性能以及随后减轻北方基础设施的地基失效至关重要。