Numerical Simulation of Embankment Deformation Caused by Southern and Northern Slopes in Seasonally Frozen Ground Region

Highway embankment nonuniform deformation related to temperature field and moisture field has caused serious distresses. In seasonally frozen ground region, due to the southern and northern slopes of embankment, the nonuniform deformation often occurs. This paper chooses Jixi region in Heilongjiang Province, China as a seasonally frozen ground region for analysis. By the finite element method, the process of freeze-thaw phase transition of the embankment with mixed boundary conditions of the 2^nd and 3^rd types is considered. The variations of temperature field and the temperature differences between southern and northern slopes in seasonally frozen ground region are also analyzed. Based on the temperature field and the position and shape of freezing front, freezing coefficient and thawing coefficient are introduced and the embankment deformation caused by the temperature differences is presented. The results may provide scientific basis for road construction and maintenance in seasonally frozen ground region.