Hydraulic conductivity changes of a low-plasticity till subjected to freeze–thaw cycles Available to Purchase

This paper examines the influence of several freeze–thaw cycles on the hydraulic conductivity changes of a glacial till from Péribonka in Quebec, Canada. Samples reconstituted by consolidation of a slurry and by compaction at dry of optimum conditions were subjected to closed freezing and thaw as well as constant-head permeability tests. For saturated consolidated samples, the relationship between the logarithm of hydraulic conductivity and void ratio was linear for both unfrozen and thawed states. At a given void ratio, the increase of the hydraulic conductivity of the thawed soil was larger for compacted and unsaturated samples than for saturated consolidated samples. Actual freeze–thaw-induced hydraulic conductivity changes, however, may be offset by a decrease in void ratio during thaw consolidation. A general framework considering void ratio, water content, stress and hydraulic conductivity relationships is presented for Péribonka glacial till.