Bothnia line, AGF in Clayey Soils; a Review of the Thawing Temporary Stabilisation and Hydraulic Sealing through F

Purpose and goal

The project aims to study the long-term effects of virgin frozen soil that thaws natively. The knowledge means that the impact on land and art buildings will be able to be predicted. The method of stabilizing and creating a hydraulically tight barrier through ground freezing will thereby be able to be chosen from several perspectives; economically, production-technically, and in terms of nature and work environment. The goal of this project is to verify the method for artificially frozen constructions with a high content of fine soil from a sustainability perspective.

Expected results and effects

The results of the studies will clarify the long-term effects of the freezing method on soil after thawing, so that unexpected effects do not arise from stress changes and settlements. The results will be of great benefit to the construction industry and infrastructure clients who will be able to drive tunnels and build facilities in a safe way where freezing can be used as a temporary stabilizing and sealing method.

Planned approach and implementation

In an initial stage, a compilation of data from the artificial ground freezing project Bothnia Railway is carried out, which is theoretically analysed. Additional data from the thawing soil next to Stranneberget is collected and compared. The results are evaluated and compiled in a report that later results in two scientific articles.