Frost heave and water-heat behavior of coarse-grained fill in HSR subgrade considering vapor migration

The moisture accumulation and freezing damage of coarse-grained fill (CGF) in high-speed railway (HSR) subgrades have been widely concerned. Based on the newly developed water-vapor-heat-mechanical coupling test apparatus, a series of soil column tests were carried out to investigate the frost heave mechanism of CGF. The results indicate that the liquid water in CGF is discontinuous and difficult to migrate to the freezing front. The primary mechanism of moisture accumulation and frost heave in CGF is vapor migration and phase transition. With increasing freeze-thaw cycles, both vapor migration and frost heave reduce. The thaw settlement of the CGF is less than the frost heave, so there is a net upward deformation in each cycle. Furthermore, the fine particle content has a prominent effect on the heat transfer and frost heave of the CGF compared to the fine particle type. Even under the condition of vapor replenishment, controlling the content of fine particles is still an important way to inhibit frost heave. Moreover, after reducing the maximum particle size of CGF, the frost heave of the sample increases. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) test results show that CGF is dominated by large pores, and the freeze-thaw cycle further promote the development of large pores, providing a good channel for the migration of vapor. In conclusion, the frost heave development caused by vapor migration is slow and continuous, posing a non-negligible risk to HSR subgrades during long-term service.