Journal of Cold Regions Engineering

Damage of concrete in a marine environment by ice can result in significant degradation of a structure, leading to increased maintenance costs, decreased structural resistance, and decreased operational lifetime. There are a number of approaches to reduce or impede these impacts, such as the choice of concrete used, selection of the structural shape, and coatings to inhibit abrasion. In order to inform these approaches, it is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms that lead to abrasion, so that appropriate design considerations may be made. Degradation of concrete through the frictional effects of ice is a key component of mechanical abrasion. Adhesion in turn is one of the key components of static friction. This paper examines the state of knowledge of the adhesive effects of large-scale (bulk) ice on concrete and presents the challenges in comparing results across test programs due to the lack of standard test procedures. Research directions are proposed, both to reduce challenges in cross-comparison of research results and to further advance our understanding of the contact mechanics at play in adhesion of ice to concrete and its effect on damage.

In cold regions, early deterioration of concretes due to freezing and thawing is a major concern. This study determined the freezing and thawing resistance of ultrahigh-performance concretes (UHPCs) made with different pozzolanic-material types (Class F fly ash, natural pozzolan, and silica fume) and combinations, as well as varying steel fiber contents (0%, 2%, and 3%) and shapes (straight and hooked) using conventional fine aggregate. A total of thirty 28-day cured UHPCs were used to assess their mass loss after 70 freeze and thaw (F–T) cycles (48 h per cycle). The pre- and post-F–T compressive and splitting tensile strengths of the studied UHPCs were also obtained and examined. The outcome of this study revealed that the studied UHPCs displayed excellent resistance against freezing and thawing deterioration. The post-F–T-exposed UHPCs gained strength due to the availability of unhydrated pozzolanic materials, coupled with favorable curing environment. Among the utilized pozzolanic-material combinations, UHPCs made with silica fume and Class F fly ash, as a partial replacement for the cement, performed the best against freezing and thawing, whereas the companion mixtures containing only Class F fly ash to replace a portion of the cement showed the highest mass loss. The addition of straight steel fibers had a more positive influence on the freezing and thawing resistance than hooked fibers.

Flow control programs on regulated rivers can improve winter flow conveyance for hydropower operations. On the Upper Nelson River, station flows at Jenpeg Generating Station are reduced during freeze-up to promote formation of a smooth ice cover in often turbulent upstream areas. This ice cover reduces the risk of frazil generation, which could otherwise result in blockages and subsequent energy losses. In this study, a characterization of freeze-up conditions for the Upper Nelson River is presented through 15 years of historical observations, supplemented by a short-term detailed monitoring program (2015–2018). Observations of rapid leading edge celerity are associated with increased ice production under dampened hydraulic conditions. Analysis of ice cores and drone footage highlights the role of skim ice runs in early cover formation, while predictions of skim ice formation show agreement with ice floe taxonomy from the literature. Establishing a baseline of freeze-up conditions for the region will assist in the development of predictive tools, such as numerical models, to optimize flow control decisions for this significant hydropower system.

As a result of climate change and design techniques poorly adapted to permafrost conditions, thermal degradation of permafrost underneath transportation infrastructure is leading to infrastructure instability and increasing maintenance costs. Thermal stabilization methods were developed to counter the effects of permafrost degradation; however, little information on the design procedures is available. The objective of this paper was to describe the development of two rational design methods and to present several design charts developed using numerical simulations, to assist the designers in thermal stabilization of embankments built on thaw-sensitive permafrost. Thermal models were built based on specific field sites and well calibrated to the measured temperature data. The charts were validated using additional data in Yukon and Nunavik, Canada, to improve their robustness and their reliability. Design charts were developed for promising mitigation techniques, including gentle side slopes, high-albedo surfaces, air convection embankments (ACEs), and heat drains.

Winter inclement weather negatively influences the safety, mobility, economy, and user experience of roadway transportation systems. Ice and snowfall conditions result in more accidents and casualties and reduce the travel speed and roadway capacity because of decreased friction and visibility. Precise and timely road weather information is necessary for road maintenance decisions and high level-of-service trips of road users. In this context, connected vehicle (CV) technologies hold great promise in addressing the various influences of winter weather on the safety and mobility of road users. This work started from a nationwide survey of US and Canadian road maintenance departments to evaluate whether and how CV technologies are perceived by the practitioners for their potential in improving winter roadway safety and mobility. All respondents to the survey thought positively of the potential of CV application in improving winter road services, even though some expressed concerns over whether the system would perform well in poor weather, how to address risks associated with vehicle and system security, and the probability of increased driver distraction. This work presents a concept of operations, including the potential application and operational scenarios of CV technologies for agencies to improve winter road services. For instance, agencies may leverage the CV/mobile collection capabilities to provide customized and route-specific (disaggregated) road weather data to support more proactive and resource-efficient maintenance strategies and tactics and provide road users with more reliable, timely, and more localized travel alerts and advisories.

Road conditions during wintertime in northern Norway frequently cause problems for heavy haulers transporting goods. The trucks often experience difficulties when traveling uphill or downhill because of snowfall and ice formation, which again constitutes a safety risk and a nuisance for other road users. In this paper, we report on a series of field tests in which we investigated the impact of targeted sanding on a heavy hauler with a focus on self-help, pull force, and road friction.

This technical note tests the efficacy of a carbonate-laden water treatment on pervious concrete to increase its resistance to magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) attack. A treatment method and an example of the method application are described. The method consists of applying MgCl₂ deicer onto pervious concrete specimens for 17 weeks, but some specimens are treated prior to the deicer applications and some are not. All specimens are then subjected to compressive strength tests and to optical microscopy, for visual analysis of the interfacial transition zone. In the example given, the time frames between casting and treating or applying deicer varied, and although inconclusive, results indicated that the treatment might be more effective if more curing is allowed prior to treatment.