Qinghai-Xizang Railroad Construction in Permafrost Regions
Publication: Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 21, Issue 2
Abstract
Construction of the Qinghai-Xizang Railroad (QXR) in permafrost regions presents a number of significant engineering problems. The engineering properties of permafrost can vary greatly, and climate warming, especially warm permafrost with high ice content, must be considered. Permafrost warming could induce ground ice thaw, producing embankment settlement. Consequently, thermal stability is a key consideration for the QXR construction in permafrost regions. In order to ensure permafrost thermal stability under the background of climate warming, ideas of embankment cooling to preventing permafrost change are proposed. Many methods of embankment cooling have been proposed to prevent the thawing of ground ice. For example, block-stone embankment, block and debris slope protected, thermosyphon, and special bridge designs. The amount of engineering practice and observational data testify that measurements of embankment cooling effectively decrease permafrost temperature and heighten the permafrost table beneath embankments.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank all the reviewers of this paper for their assistance in editorial revisions and constructive technical comments and suggestions. This research is funded by Key Project CAS KZCX1-SW-04 and the “973” National Social Development Research Programme (2002CB412704).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 21 • Issue 2 • June 2007
Pages: 60 - 67
Copyright
© 2007 ACE.
History
Received: Oct 14, 2004
Accepted: Oct 23, 2006
Published online: Jun 1, 2007
Published in print: Jun 2007
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