Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/9376
Title: Soil moisture prediction during freeze and thaw using a coupled heat and moisture flow model
Authors: Bigl, Susan R.
Shoop, Sally A. (Sally Annette)
Keywords: Freezing soils
Soils
Frozen soils
Frozen ground
Soil freezing
Frost heave
Frost heaving
Soil modeling
Soil models
Soil moisture
Soil water content
Publisher: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.)
Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.: CRREL report ; 94-11.
Description: CRREL Report
Abstract: A coupled heat flow and moisture flow model (FROSTB) was used to simulate large scale freeze-thaw experiments to assess its ability to predict soil moisture conditions during freeze and thaw. The experimental data consists of temperature and soil moisture profiles through freeze-thaw cycles of a 1-m layer of frost susceptible silty sand over roughly 2 m of gravely sand. Two experimental conditions were modeled: 1) where the soil moisture was lower than specific retention (less than 12% by weight) and no water table was present (dry case) and 2) where the soil was fairly wet and the water table was approximately 1m deep (wet case). During freezing, FROSTS tends to predict ice contents higher than those observed, which causes the simulated soil column to thaw slower. During thawing the predicted moisture contents in the thawed soil were close to the measured values for the wet case but were always higher than the measured moisture contents for the dry case. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed.
Rights: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11681/9376
Appears in Collections:CRREL Report

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