Frost Jacking Characteristics of Transmission Tower Pile Foundations with and without Thermosyphons in Permafrost Regions of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Publication: Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 35, Issue 2
Abstract
Frost jacking of electricity transmission tower (ETT) pile foundations in permafrost regions of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is becoming increasingly serious. This study investigated the effects of thermosyphons on the frost jacking characteristics of such pile foundations. Field tests of pile foundations with and without thermosyphons were carried out in the Wonkhu–Budongquan section of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. A three-dimensional finite-element model was established to analyze the effectiveness of thermosyphons, ground temperature distributions, and jacking displacements and force characteristics of ETT pile foundations. The results showed that the power of thermosyphons decreases yearly within 30 years. The thermosyphons can effectively increase the cold reserves of the permafrost and reduce the soil temperature; the soil temperature around the pile and the depth of thaw is the lowest in the fifth year, and this will increase the top of permafrost by 48 cm in the thirtieth year. Thermosyphons can effectively increase the adfreezing force of the pile side below the active layer and reduce the frost jacking displacement, thus alleviating frost jacking damage to ETT pile foundations.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51268033 and 41902272) and the Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering (Grant No. SKLFSE201607).
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Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 35 • Issue 2 • June 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Feb 15, 2020
Accepted: Dec 11, 2020
Published online: Feb 9, 2021
Published in print: Jun 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jul 9, 2021
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