Mengjuan Wu , Jie Wang , Sanliang Ling , Richard Whealthy , Yizhou Shen , Xianghui Hou
{"title":"Durable icephobicity: A lubricant-infused nickel scaffold approach","authors":"Mengjuan Wu , Jie Wang , Sanliang Ling , Richard Whealthy , Yizhou Shen , Xianghui Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104823","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The wind turbine blades are prone to icing phenomena under harsh and extreme environmental conditions, which significantly jeopardize the operational safety. In response to the critical challenges posed by the high energy consumption and low efficiency of current ice protection technology, the study aims to propose an optimized design for icephobic structure, leveraging the synergistic effect of phase change and the solid-ice interfacial mechanical behaviours. The proposed structure incorporates metallic scaffolds within polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix infused with ice-depressing liquid. In this study, glycol and glycerol were selected as the ice-depressing liquids for this investigation. By leveraging the infused ice-depressing liquid, the concentration of existing hydroxyl groups on the layer surface increased, which effectively lowered the freezing point of supercooled droplets at the liquid-solid interfaces. Furthermore, the embedded metallic scaffolds play a dual role in enhancing both the mechanical durability and de-icing performance of the composite structure. The remarkable reduction in ice adhesion was effectively achieved through the enhanced micro-crack propagation behaviour and diminished fracture toughness at the solid-ice interfaces, primarily stemming from the enhanced elastic-plastic disparities between the various phases, which facilitate both crack initiation and propagation at the interface. Consequently, this process undermines interfacial bonding, thereby promoting a more effortless removal of ice. The newly developed icephobic structure exhibited impressive icephobicity and durability: the ice nucleation delay duration of supercooled water droplets at −20 °C on Ni scaffolds-PDMS infused with glycerol (NP-glycerol) has been prolonged to 179.7 ± 4.5 s, whereas the icing time of pure Al plate of equivalent thickness exhibited an icing time of only 9.0 ± 1.2 s. Furthermore, the ice adhesion strength of NP-glycerol remained remarkably stable at approximately 0.7 ± 0.1 kPa even after 50 icing/de-icing cycles, highlighting the exceptional durability of the fabricated structure. These findings suggest that the proposed icephobic structure, incorporating metallic scaffolds and ice-depressing liquid within PDMS matrix, offers a promising avenue for developing durable and effective anti-icing surfaces for diverse applications. Future research will focus on optimizing the scaffold geometry and investigating the influence of ice-depressing liquids to further enhance the icephobic performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104823"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jianshuo Wang , Aoyou Liu , Junxiang Zhao , Zhihua Chen , Ningning Hong , Xizhi Zhang , Li Jia , Julita Krassowska
{"title":"Wind tunnel test of non-uniform snow distribution on large-span suspended gable roofs with snow fences","authors":"Jianshuo Wang , Aoyou Liu , Junxiang Zhao , Zhihua Chen , Ningning Hong , Xizhi Zhang , Li Jia , Julita Krassowska","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104797","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104797","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Frequent extreme weather events, involving high winds and heavy snowfalls, lead to many accidents. Large-span suspended gable roof structures are used in certain geological and geomorphological protection zones and archaeological and cultural relic excavation sites, etc., which are characterized by weak foundations, light dead weight, large flexibility and strong sensitivity to snow accumulation. Under heavy snowfall, local or overall load changes on these roofs easily create safety hazards. Therefore, this paper conducted wind tunnel tests to study snow distribution on the large-span suspended gable roofs with snow fences. The research investigated snow distribution under varying snowfall conditions, wind speeds, and wind directions. The study found that snow accumulation on the roof forms characteristic deposition zones under different wind directions, exhibiting distinct patterns during both snowfall and snow erosion deposition. As wind speed increases, the peak snow accumulation point moves toward the roof ridge. Subsequent tests on roof models with snow fences of different heights showed that the 20 mm high snow fence resulted in more uniform snow distribution and smoother contour changes under both snowfall and snow erosion conditions. Under snow erosion conditions, compared to a roof without snow fences, the snow fence significantly reduced snow erosion across different wind directions, leading to uniform snow distribution. This enhances the overall structural stability, preventing collapse caused by local instability. The study demonstrates that roof snow fences benefit uniform snow distribution and provides a test basis for the anti-snow design of similar future projects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104797"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145838753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Shear creep behavior at steel pile–frozen clay and pile–ice interfaces and its nonlinear constitutive model","authors":"Botong Wang , Qiang Gao , Zhiwei Zhou , Zhi Wen , Mikhal Zhelezniak","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104794","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104794","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In permafrost regions, ice-rich permafrost and massive ground ice occur widely beneath the active layer. Shear behavior at the pile–frozen soil and pile–ice interfaces critically governs the long-term deformation of pile foundations during thaw-induced degradation. During thermal fluctuations and complex loading, this interface exhibits temperature-dependent mechanical behavior with pronounced nonlinearity. This study examines creep behavior at the steel pile-frozen clay interface, under varying stress-temperature conditions, using graded loading-unloading shear creep tests. Experimental results are compared with previous steel pile-ice interface tests, revealing similarities and differences in shear creep behavior between steel pile-frozen clay and steel pile-ice interfaces. A viscoelastic-plastic model is proposed based on test data, combining an instantaneous elastic element and a double Kelvin unit in series. The evolution of key parameters is analyzed with respect to stress and temperature dependence, including <em>G</em><sub>0</sub> (instantaneous elastic modulus), <em>η</em><sub>3</sub> (viscoplastic viscosity coefficient), and <em>n</em> (exponent of the viscoplastic creep curve shape). Results show markedly higher instantaneous plastic deformation at the steel pile-frozen clay interface than at the steel pile-ice interface. Model parameters vary nonlinearly with graded shear stress, and <em>G</em><sub>0</sub> increases with graded shear stress following a power-law relationship for both interfaces. At −1 °C, <em>η</em><sub>3</sub> remains near-constant during graded loading, while at lower temperatures, <em>η</em><sub>3</sub> first increases then decreases with load, more markedly at the steel pile-frozen clay interface. The exponent <em>n</em> increases continuously with stress for both interfaces, showing consistently higher values at the steel pile-ice interface. Mechanical properties enhance at lower temperatures for both interfaces. These results provide guidance for designing and optimizing pile foundations in cold regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104794"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145838754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kunpeng Li , Zemei Wu , Xinyan Zheng , Yupu Wang , Yancong Zhang
{"title":"Comparative analysis of different machine learning models for prediction of compressive strength of early-age frozen concrete","authors":"Kunpeng Li , Zemei Wu , Xinyan Zheng , Yupu Wang , Yancong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104808","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104808","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The prediction of compressive strength of concrete is critical for establishing science-based mixture design criteria and ensuring long-term structural performance under aggressive environments, such as marine zones or cold regions. In this study, seven machine learning (ML) models were utilized to forecast the compressive strength of early-age frozen concrete (EFC). The effects of variables, including water-to-binder ratio, pre-curing time, freezing temperature, freezing time, and curing time, on the compressive strength of EFC were analyzed. The predictive accuracy of the seven ML models was compared. To assess variable influence on compressive strength of EFC, the Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) method was applied. The analysis demonstrated that seven ML models successfully predict the compressive strength of EFC, among which the models based on GBDT and XGBoost exhibited superior predictive performance. The R<sup>2</sup> values of the training set using GBDT and XGBoost were 0.9912 and 0.9929, while the R<sup>2</sup> values for the test set were 0.9573 and 0.9569. Global interpretation revealed that the water-to-binder ratio and air-entraining agent most significantly influenced the compressive strength of EFC. Finally, recommendations for enhancing the compressive strength of EFC were proposed. The findings from this research can help understand the strength development of EFC and provide technical guidance for the design and preparation of concrete infrastructures in cold regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104808"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145838747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Haojie Zheng , Siming Zheng , Yang Yang , Koushik Kanti Barman , Gregorio Iglesias
{"title":"Blade icing characteristics and dynamic response analysis of floating offshore wind turbine in cold marine environments","authors":"Haojie Zheng , Siming Zheng , Yang Yang , Koushik Kanti Barman , Gregorio Iglesias","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104796","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104796","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) operating in cold marine environments must confront atmospheric icing. The objective of this work is to study the blade icing characteristics in operation and the dynamic response of FOWT after icing. For this purpose, blade icing is simulated under various operating conditions using the IEA Wind 15 MW reference wind turbine as an exemplar. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methodology calculates the aerodynamic performance of the icing airfoil. A fully coupled dynamic analysis of the wind turbine is performed in OpenFAST to assess the response of the FOWT after blade icing. The calculation results indicate that the wind turbine’s operating regions significantly impact ice accretion. Blade icing reduces the aerodynamic performance, leading to power generation loss. The maximum lift coefficient at the blade tip decreases by 17.7%. The power generation loss in Region 2 is approximately 6%, and the maximum power loss of 0.87 MW occurs at 11 m<span><math><mo>/</mo></math></span>s. Due to different control strategies, the wind turbine response caused by blade icing manifests differently before and after the rated wind speed. When exceeding the rated wind speed, the reduction of pitch angle caused by blade icing, which decreases by 25.6% at 11 m/s, may lead to structural overload. Under imbalanced icing, the power generation of the wind turbine exhibits fluctuations. This study provides a reference for evaluating FOWTs in cold marine environments regarding power generation and safety under atmospheric icing conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104796"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qian Jiao , Lifang Zheng , Fei Ma , Boshen Liu , Lan Wang , Jiawei Sheng
{"title":"Traction prediction of snow groomer based on track–snow mechanism","authors":"Qian Jiao , Lifang Zheng , Fei Ma , Boshen Liu , Lan Wang , Jiawei Sheng","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104811","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104811","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traction is essential for snow groomer traversability and safety, yet prediction remains challenging due to limited understanding of groomed snow mechanics and track–snow interactions. This study proposes an improved traction model grounded in comprehensive in-situ experiments. Pressure-sinkage and shear-displacement relationships were quantified for groomed snow with a density of 480–520 kg/<span><math><msup><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></math></span> at temperatures of <span><math><mo>−</mo></math></span>20 to <span><math><mo>−</mo></math></span>15 °C. Based on the field measurements using a distributed sensor array, a dynamic, non-uniform pressure distribution model was established, which critically captures the pressure evolution under the tracks and replacing the conventional uniform-pressure assumption. The model maps snow compaction from groomer passes to the resulting track sinkage. A comprehensive traction prediction model was established by integrating these experimentally grounded components: mechanical properties, dynamic pressure, and compaction-induced sinkage. Validation with an instrumented snow groomer demonstrated an average traction prediction error of 8.29% under low slip conditions, significantly outperforming traditional traction prediction models. This empirically-driven framework provides a robust tool for optimizing vehicle performance and enabling autonomous grooming operations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104811"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guoyu Li , Mingtang Chai , Wei Ma , Fujun Niu , Dun Chen , Qingsong Du , Yu Zhou , Shunshun Qi , Yapeng Cao , Jianbing Chen , Liyun Tang , Yan Zhang
{"title":"Thawing permafrost under Qinghai-Xizang Highway and its impacts on road performance based on multi-source observed data","authors":"Guoyu Li , Mingtang Chai , Wei Ma , Fujun Niu , Dun Chen , Qingsong Du , Yu Zhou , Shunshun Qi , Yapeng Cao , Jianbing Chen , Liyun Tang , Yan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Qinghai-Xizang Highway (QXH) exhibits widespread pavement damages because of underlying permafrost thawing. To comprehensively reflect the pavement damages and their controlling factors, images were processed and compared from ground penetrating radar (GPR) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in 7 typical sections along the QXH in the permafrost regions. The field monitoring data of ground temperature, embankment deformation were also collected to jointly investigate distribution, formation process and development mechanisms of roadway distress based on multi-source data. Indices such as distress ratio, pavement roughness and lateral deformation of the QXH were calculated by image segmentation and spatial analysis based on the UAV images. Results showed that (1) the temporal-spatial distribution of standard deviation of pavement altitude from the UAV image can quantitatively reflect the pavement roughness caused by embankment settlement and and vehicle loading during the roadway operation. The standard deviation has the maximum of difference of with 20–30 cm/a. (2) The average lateral deformation of the QXH can be extracted from the UAV image in thick embankment sections, which was 0.09 m/a in 4 of the 7 selected sections (K3059, K3119, K3177 and K3188). (3) Field monitoring data revealed the climate warming and permafrost thawing along the QXH. The GPR results and the UAV image can mutually verified for the explanation for the formation and development of the pavement damages. The findings can provide a comprehensive analysis method for the pavement damage and embankment distress based on multi-sourced data, and scientific guide for distress prediction and roadway maintenance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104828"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Doudou Jin , Hongwei Zhang , Ze Zhang , Zhiyuan Wang , Yaqi Zhang
{"title":"Multi-Physical Response and Directional Cation-Moisture Migration in Frozen Clay under Saline Electro-Osmosis","authors":"Doudou Jin , Hongwei Zhang , Ze Zhang , Zhiyuan Wang , Yaqi Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amplified by global warming, permafrost degradation manifests as rising temperatures and reduced stability, diminishing the efficiency of passive cooling solutions (e.g., thermosyphons) in warm permafrost regions. Conventional active thawing approaches exhibit inherent limitations: poor controllability over melt-front propagation and unregulated pore-water migration trajectories. Inspired by the dual mechanisms of saline solutions depressing soil freezing points and electro-osmosis (EO) controlling moisture orientation, this study injected NaCl/ CaCl<sub>2</sub> solutions at varying concentrations into the anode during frozen clay EO. Current and temperature dynamics under diverse initial conditions were analyzed, alongside comparative assessment of pre−/post-treatment variations in moisture content, elemental distribution, and pH profile. Lower-valence cations demonstrated enhanced activity, manifested through higher current peaks and accelerated current growth rates. Rapid current surges triggered intense Joule heating, elevating soil temperature to the phase-transition threshold (0 °C) within abbreviated timeframes. Meanwhile, ice-clogged ion transport pathways induced biphasic current peaks rather than monophasic rise-decay curves. Post-treatment, directional migration toward the cathode occurred for both moisture and cations, exhibiting the electromigration hierarchy: H<sup>+</sup> > Na<sup>+</sup> > Ca<sup>2+</sup> > H<sub>2</sub>O. Consequently, pH shifts dominated the variation spectrum, with moisture redistribution being comparatively limited. The combination of EO with salt solution enables directional migration of water and ions in frozen clay, thereby achieving effective pre-thawing of frozen ground and offering a novel approach for foundation treatment in permafrost regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104815"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Performance evaluation of strain gauges in frozen soils and application to load-transfer analysis of steel pipe piles","authors":"Jiawei Gao , Ji Chen , Xin Hou , Qihang Mei , Anhua Xu , Shouhong Zhang , Tianchun Dong , Yaojun Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104818","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104818","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Monitoring load transfer mechanisms in pile foundations is particularly critical in cold regions, where frozen soil properties, such as adfreeze bonding and temperature-induced deformation, complicate stress measurements and long-term performance evaluations. Although strain gauges are widely used in structural testing, their performance under low temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles requires further validation. This study systematically evaluates strain gauge reliability under coupled thermal and mechanical loading and applies the validated sensors to model tests of steel pipe piles in frozen soils, thereby linking laboratory evaluation with engineering practice. To examine measurement stability and accuracy, laboratory experiments were carried out under controlled temperature variations and cyclic loading. Results indicated that strain gauges maintained stable performance from −10.0 to +20.0 °C, while cyclic axial loading tests showed good repeatability, with mean absolute percentage errors generally below 5.0 %. The fitted elastic modulus (0.19 × 10<sup>6</sup> MPa) also closely matched the theoretical value (0.20 × 10<sup>6</sup> MPa). Application to model pile tests demonstrated that the gauges effectively captured axial force distribution, shaft resistance, and end resistance under different loading levels, reflecting the nonlinear load transfer behavior of piles in frozen soils. These findings demonstrate that, when properly validated and calibrated, strain gauges offer a reliable and cost-effective solution for structural sensing in cold-region foundations. Beyond laboratory insights, the study underscores their potential for long-term field applications, offering practical value for infrastructure risk assessment and design in permafrost and seasonally frozen regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104818"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yao Bai , Yan Luo , Jiaxu Yan , Zhibo Xu , Yanxia Nie , Renliang Shan
{"title":"Hydro-thermo-mechanical coupling analysis of freeze-thaw process and optimization of freezing scheme in soft clay stratum","authors":"Yao Bai , Yan Luo , Jiaxu Yan , Zhibo Xu , Yanxia Nie , Renliang Shan","doi":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104816","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104816","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study addresses the challenges of frost heave and thaw settlement of typical soft clay stratum during Artificial Ground Freezing (AGF) projects through an integrated approach combining laboratory tests, theoretical modeling, and numerical simulations. According to the analysis of freeze-thaw test data of soft clay samples with initial moisture contents of 25 %, 30 %, and 35 %, there is a significant lag effect between thermal response and mechanical response during the freeze-thaw process. The observed residual deformation underscores the dominant role of frost heave in causing structural damage. The governing equations incorporating the latent heat of phase change, the convective heat effect of moisture migration, and the ice impedance correction coefficient were derived. Through secondary development of COMSOL Multiphysics, multi-field dynamic coupling and visualization have been achieved, including phase change heat transfer in the temperature field, moisture migration, and stress field. The reliability of the model was validated against experimental data. The simulation applied to the freezing project of the metro connecting passage shows that by reasonably reducing the diameter of the freezing pipes from the original 89 mm to 68 mm and optimizing the layout spacing (reducing 5 pipes), it is possible to significantly reduce the consumption of pipe materials while ensuring the safe thickness and design temperature of the freezing wall. This study demonstrated both safety and economic efficiency. This work provides a theoretical foundation and design optimization strategies for artificial freezing projects in high-moisture strata.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10522,"journal":{"name":"Cold Regions Science and Technology","volume":"244 ","pages":"Article 104816"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}