Seasonally frozen soil characteristics and feasibility study of turf slope protection
摘要
Roadcut slopes in seasonally frozen regions are susceptible to frost heave and thaw settlement hazards under the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and precipitation. Taking a roadcut slope in the Aba region of Sichuan as the study object, primary laboratory element tests were performed to examine the soil's frost heave properties. The findings indicated pronounced freezing behavior in local soils, requiring the implementation of anti-frost countermeasures. Subsequently, laboratory model tests were carried out to examine turf protection's impacts on soil frost heave characteristics and post-freeze–thaw strength. The outcomes revealed that turf slope protection exhibits excellent thermal preservation and frost heave suppression capabilities. It delays freezing time by approximately 26.4% and reduces frost heave amount by about 50.3%. The method inhibits post-freeze–thaw soil weakening by 22.6% and achieves a protection depth equivalent to 50% of plain soil's frost penetration. Ultimately, field experiments conducted in the Aba region of Sichuan Province confirmed the technical viability of turf slope protection in real-world engineering scenarios. This study provides technical reference for slope protection in seasonal frozen soil regions.