Water-induced distress characteristics and mechanism of a separated expressway traversing thaw-sensitive permafrost zones

IF 3.8 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CIVIL

Cold Regions Science and Technology Pub Date : 2025-08-20 DOI:10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104650

Minghao Liu , Bingyan Li , Yanhu Mu , Jing Luo , Fei Yin , Xiangbing Kong

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The Gonghe-Yushu Expressway (GYE), as the first and only expressway constructed in the degrading permafrost zones of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is significantly affected by widespread water accumulation near the roadway, primarily due to climate warming and increased precipitation. However, a gap remains in understanding of the impact of water accumulation on progression of permafrost subgrade distress and its triggering mechanisms. This study employed a multi-source methodology integrating manual survey, unmanned aerial vehicle survey and ground-penetrating radar detection to investigate the distress characteristics of permafrost roadway and to quantify their correlations with water ponding along the GYE. A machine learning-based model was established to predict the occurring probability of water-induced distress and to identify the critical factors influencing permafrost distress. The results indicate that more than 60 % of permafrost sections exhibit distress, particularly in warm and ice-rich permafrost areas, where the distress rate can reach up to 60 %. Water ponding is closely correlated with the progression of roadway distress. Approximately 66.1 % of roadway distresses are linked to water ponding, and the severity of these distresses increases as ponding area expands, ponding depth increases, and the distance from slope toe decreases. Furthermore, the model predicts a total distressed section length of 44.95 km, with water-induced distress accounting for 29.81 km (66.3 %). These predictions align closely with field survey results. Additionally, the model indicates that water ponding ranks second only to ice content as a critical factor inducing permafrost roadway distress. Water ponding functions as a persistent heat source, inducing hydrothermal effects on the nearby permafrost foundation and exacerbating uneven thawing, thereby accelerating the settlement progression. This study enhances the understanding of triggering mechanisms of water accumulation on expressway subgrade and provides valuable insights for maintenance of permafrost road infrastructure.

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穿越融敏多年冻土带的分离式高速公路水害特征及机理

然而，水积累对多年冻土路基破坏进程的影响及其触发机制的理解仍然存在空白。本研究采用人工测量、无人机测量和探地雷达探测相结合的多源方法，研究了多年冻土巷道的破坏特征，并量化了它们与GYE沿线积水的相关性。建立了基于机器学习的模型，预测水致灾害发生概率，识别影响多年冻土灾害的关键因素。结果表明，超过60%的永久冻土区出现了破坏，特别是在温暖和富冰的永久冻土区，破坏率高达60%。积水与巷道破坏的发展密切相关。约66.1%的巷道病害与积水有关，且随着积水面积的扩大、积水深度的增加和距坡脚距离的减小，巷道病害的严重程度也随之增加。模型还预测，该地区总受损段长度为44.95 km，其中水致受损段占29.81 km（66.3%）。这些预测与实地调查结果非常吻合。此外，该模型还表明，积水是引起多年冻土巷道破坏的第二大关键因素，仅次于含冰量。积水作为一个持续热源，对附近的多年冻土基础产生热液效应，加剧不均匀融化，从而加速沉降进程。该研究增强了对高速公路路基水积累触发机制的认识，为冻土道路基础设施的维护提供了有价值的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Cold Regions Science and Technology 工程技术-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

12.20%

发文量

209

审稿时长

4.9 months

期刊介绍： Cold Regions Science and Technology is an international journal dealing with the science and technical problems of cold environments in both the polar regions and more temperate locations. It includes fundamental aspects of cryospheric sciences which have applications for cold regions problems as well as engineering topics which relate to the cryosphere. Emphasis is given to applied science with broad coverage of the physical and mechanical aspects of ice (including glaciers and sea ice), snow and snow avalanches, ice-water systems, ice-bonded soils and permafrost. Relevant aspects of Earth science, materials science, offshore and river ice engineering are also of primary interest. These include icing of ships and structures as well as trafficability in cold environments. Technological advances for cold regions in research, development, and engineering practice are relevant to the journal. Theoretical papers must include a detailed discussion of the potential application of the theory to address cold regions problems. The journal serves a wide range of specialists, providing a medium for interdisciplinary communication and a convenient source of reference.