Journal of Cold Regions Engineering

This paper describes a study undertaken at Umiujaq, in northern Québec, on laterally loaded piles in permafrost subject to a constant displacement rate. Test results of bending moments, shear load, soil reaction, and pile displacements demonstrate the complex nature of creep of frozen soils. FEM simulations show a good concurrence with field test results and confirm a clear distinction between stationary and nonstationary creep.

Recent physical model studies have refined designs for high-flow air diffusers for managing accumulations of broken ice at navigation projects. Although these solutions are successful in the model, implementing them in the field can be difficult because of uncertainties in airflow scaling. This study uses field and laboratory data to test theoretical relationships between airflow from the diffuser and the resulting near-surface water velocity. In the experiments, water velocities were measured adjacent to bubbler plumes for depths ranging from $0.52\text{to}6.5\mathrm{m}$ and airflow rates ranging from $0.015\text{to}0.68$ standard cubic meters per minute/meter. The observed vertical and horizontal water velocity data compared moderately well to theoretical curves based on the equations of Kobus and Ashton. In addition, a reasonably linear relationship was found between the average velocity of the horizontal, near-surface flow field $V$ and unit airflow from the diffuser $Q_a$ .