• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.53-62
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• 2023

The characteristics of unfrozen water content in frozen soils significantly impact the thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical behavior of the ground. A thorough analysis of the unfrozen water content characteristics of the target subsoil material is crucial for evaluating the stability of frozen ground. This study conducted indoor experiments to measure the freezing point and unfrozen water content of sandy soil while considering pore water salinity. Utilizing the experimental data, we introduced a novel empirical model to conveniently estimate the unfrozen water retention curve. Furthermore, the validity of the unfrozen water retention curve was assessed by comparing the experimental data with the results of a simulation model that utilized the proposed empirical model as input data.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.229-236
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• 2003

Ultrasonic propagation velocities of both the dilatational and shear waves through the weathered tuff soil sampled from the area tying between Ulanbator and Beijing were measured under temperature condition of near subzero by means of sing-around method. After comparing the results with obtained data on unfrozen water content, a linear relation between velocities and unfrozen water content was performed with high coefficient value. Experimental results of two kinds of rather uniform materials, namely, glass-beads and silica micro-beads, testified the similar linear relations. In addition, the change rate of dilatational wave velocities with the change of volumetric unfrozen water content was not dependent on soil type. Although a rational theory of the ultrasonic velocities dependence on the unfrozen water content is not yet proposed, the presented empirical relationships may suggest the appropriate evaluation to the effect of unfrozen water on dynamic characteristics of frozen soil.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2020

The interaction between the frozen soil and building structures deteriorates with the increasing temperature. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) stratification test was conducted with respect to the unfrozen water content on the interface and a shear test was conducted on the frozen soil-structure interface to explore the shear characteristics of the frozen soil-structure interface and its failure mechanism during the thawing process. The test results showed that the unfrozen water at the interface during the thawing process can be clearly distributed in three stages, i.e., freezing, phase transition, and thawing, and that the shear strength of the interface decreases as the unfrozen water content increases. The internal friction angle and cohesive force display a change law of "as one falls, the other rises," and the minimum internal friction angle and maximum cohesive force can be observed at -1℃. In addition, the change characteristics of the interface strength parameters during the freezing process were compared, and the differences between the interface shear characteristics and failure mechanisms during the frozen soil-structure interface freezing-thawing process were discussed. The shear strength parameters of the interface was subjected to different changes during the freezing-thawing process because of the different interaction mechanisms of the molecular structures of ice and water in case of the ice-water phase transition of the test sample during the freezing-thawing process.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.59-67
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• 2016

The strength of frozen soils is affected by size and shape of particles, and the amount of ice and unfrozen water. The objective of this study is to characterize the unfrozen water content and the unconfined compressive strength of the frozen soils according to the degree of saturations and silt fractions. The specimens are mixtures of sand, silt, and water. The silt fractions (SF), which are the ratio of the silt weight ($W_{silt}$) to the sand weight ($W_{sand}$), are 10% and 30%. In addition, the degrees of the saturation are 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The specimens are frozen under the temperature of $-10^{\circ}C$ conditions. The uniaxial compression tests are conducted for 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after freezing to determine proper freezing time. The freezing time of 24 hours is chosen because the unconfined compressive strengths of specimens after 24 hours freezing times are similar to each other. Furthermore, the unfrozen water content is monitored during freezing using the TDR system. The unfrozen water content increases with the increase of the silt fraction and degree of saturation. The unconfined compressive strength of the frozen soils exponentially increases with increasing the degree of saturation. This study shows that the amount of ice has more influence on the strength of the frozen soils than the amount of unfrozen water.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.894-904
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• 2008

In this study, soil samples from the Antarctic and Vladivostok, Siberia were tested in the laboratory, and specific gravity, compaction curve and grain size distribution were determined. The effect of temperature change on the thermal conductivity, unfrozen water content and compressive strength were investigated. Samples for the compressive strength test were prepared in a mold with a fixed volume to prevent swelling and the effect of temperature and water content change on the strength were compared. Results from the thermal conductivity test showed that thermal conductivity values for both soils were larger at temperatures below freezing than above freezing. The unfrozen water content dropped sharply within a temperature range of $0{\sim}-5^{\circ}C$ and then gradually decreased further up to $-20^{\circ}C$. Compressive strength test results showed various stress/deformation curves with a change in water content. Sandy soil had much larger strength than pure ice at an identical temperature, while clayey soil had a smaller strength than ice near the freezing point, but showed a larger strength at temperatures belows $-15^{\circ}C$.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.102-105
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• 2008

The freezing patterns of commercial frozen foods were characterized by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance ($^1H$ NMR) relaxometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The liquid-like components like unfrozen water were investigated as a function of temperature (10 to $-40^{\circ}C$) and then compared with the unfrozen water content measured by DSC. The formation of ice crystals and the reduction of water in the foods during freezing were readily observed as a loss of the NMR signal intensity. The proton NMR relaxation measurement showed that the decreasing pattern of the liquid-like components varied depending on the samples even though they exhibited the same onset temperature of ice formation at around $0^{\circ}C$. When compared with the unfrozen water content obtained by the DSC, the NMR and DSC results could be closely correlated at the temperature above $-20^{\circ}C$. However, the distinct divergence in the values between 2 methods was observed with further decreasing temperatures probably due to the solid glass formation which was not detected by DSC.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.27-36
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• 2010

Thermal conductivities using the thermal probe method were determined for frost susceptible soil with three types of discarded tire powder under the condition of a temperature variation from $-20^{\circ}C{\sim}+10^{\circ}C$. Also, the amount of unfrozen water contents was measured by the pulsed NMR method. The variation of unfrozen water content in the experimental condition could be expressed as a function of temperature given by an exponential equation. A new model for calculating the thermal conductivity of frozen soil was proposed. It is extended from the two element method and subdivided into three constituent elements.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5-16
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• 2012

The second scientific antarctic station of South Korea is under construction at Terra Nova Bay located in eastern Antarctica. Ground condition in the Antarctica is frozen in general, but there are seasonal frozen grounds with active layers sporadically. When the active layer is frozen, frost heaving occurs that might cause the differential movement of frozen ground and the failure of structures. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the frost heaving susceptibility of soils at Terra Nova Bay before starting antarctic station construction. This study presents experimental investigation of the frost heaving susceptibility of soil samples with variation of particle sizes and unfrozen water contents. The soil samples were taken from five different locations at Terra Nova Bay and physical properties, unfrozen water content, and frost heaving tests were performed. For the frost heaving tests, soil specimens were frozen with constant freezing temperatures at the top and with drainage at the bottom in order to stimulate the frost heaving. The frost heaving tests provide volume expansion, volumetric strain, and heaving rate which can be used to analyze the relationship between the frost heaving vs. particle size and the frost heaving vs. unfrozen water content. Experimental results show that the more the fine contents exist in soils, the more frost heaving occurs. In addition, the frost heaving depends on unfrozen water content. Experimental data can be used to evaluate the frost heaving susceptibility of soils at the future construction site in the Antarctica.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.15-26
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• 2010

To determine the frost heave suppressing mechanism of soil mixed with tire powder, we conducted three kinds of laboratory experiments: measurement of unfrozen water, evaluation of thermal conductivity, and a frost heave. In this research, we focused on changes in the coefficient of permeability of the mixed soil, and first found that of the unsaturated soil. Next, in the case of the presence of ice, we took the ice-impeding factor into consideration to derive the coefficient of permeability of the frozen fringe from the area ratio of the soil and tire powder in mixed soil. The results show a positive correlation between the water intake rate and the coefficient of permeability. Moreover, we found that the frost heave decreased thanks to a reduction in the permeability and a fall in the unfrozen water content of the soil mixed with tire powder. We also calculated the weight of the water content of the soil and tire powder void quantitatively using the result of the volumetric ratio of mixed soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09a
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• pp.1030-1038
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• 2010

In order to design and construction of the Antarctic Continental Station at the Terra Nova Bay in the East Antarctic, ground characteristics for soil samples taken from the Antarctic. A series of laboratory tests were performed to investigate the variations of the thermal conductivity, the unfrozen water content according to the temperature change of the soil taken from the Antarctic. The temperature were low down below zero.