Building safe, adequate, durable roads over permafrost soil presents unique challenges to the construction industry. It is not suprising that the mechanisms that lie behind these challenges are explained by the laws of physics. Consequently, as concerned professionals from the engineering community look for inovative ways to deal with the permafrost specter, it is in the realm of physics where they look for the elusive techniques that will enable the extension of the transportation infastructure into the northcountry in a safe, efficient, wise, and economic way.
This paper will explore the techniques used to build road embankments over frozen soil. In exploring these techniques, every effort will be made to demonstrate the physical concept that is pertinent.
But prior to our examination of diferent methods of permafrost resistent roadbuilding techniques we must start by going back to basics. To understand the construction methodology of arctic roadbuilding we need to understand the mechanics and properties of permafrost.
It's All About Heat
* What is Permafrost? Permafrost is defined as ground that has been at a temperature below the freezing point of water for more than two years. A large portion of the ground in Alaska is defined as permafrost (some estimates say as much as 80 percent). Permafrost can extend to a depth of several hundred feet, or it can be as little as several feet deep.
* Is there permafrost in Fairbanks? Yes. We live in an area defined by "discontinuous" permafrost. This classification refers to the fact that some of the ground is frozen, and some of it is not. Also, it is important to note that the permafrost in this area is known as "warm" permafrost. Warm permafrost is at a temperatur...
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...ely be used.
Both of these systems are currently being experimented with. Time will tell if these promising techniques provide an economical means of constructing roads over frozen ground.
Bibliography
Experimental Roadways on Permafrost, McHattie, Esch, Zarling, Conner, Goering, State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, July 1983
ACE and Thermosyphon Design Features Loftus Road Extension Project, Goering, State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, December 2001
Permafrost at the Geological Survey of Canada, http://sts.gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/permafrost/
Alaska DOT Deals With Permafrost Thaws, Stidger, Ruth,Better Roads , June, 2001
Permafrost, A Problem of Building in Alaska, Seibert, Alaska Co Operative Extension Service
The Permafrost Investigation ,Jernstrom, Alaska Housing and Finance Corporation
The very first snowmachines had tracks with very bad traction. But you must realize that they weren't driving in the same conditions snowmachines of today can handle. Old machines were limited to readily used trails and very little powder. The tracks used on the old machines looked like the one shown in the picture below. The traction, the little raised bits of rubber, was minimal and the tracks weren't very economical either. The first attempts at making a track was using steel, which was too heavy, and rubber, which was to flexible and brittle at cold temperatures. Eventually manufacturers found the key ingredients. Kevlar tracks with imbedded nylon strands to reinforce and improve strength. A kevlar track is now the standard in today's snowmachines.
To start of we all know that driving in Winter all drivers experience low visibility which causes all drivers to take it slower than usual. Before thinking about driving in Winter, you need to make sure you know how to handle snowy and icy roads before getting behind the wheel. All it takes is the smallest patch of ice or snow to cause you to skid of the road, which could cause life threatning injuries
The word Tundra comes from the Finnish word Tunturia which means treeless plain. There's no vegetation because of the extreme weather conditions. It is located near the north pole and it also covers a fifth of the earth's surface. If it's too cold not vegetation can grow because of the ice caps not melting, if it gets a little warmer than maybe roots can grow. The arctic tundra has two seasons winter and summer, but the sun only heats up the tundra to 3 degrees celsius to 12 degrees celsius. When the sun cannot rise the temperatures drop to very cold conditions around -70 degrees celsius while the average temperature is -28 degrees celsius. The rain levels in the tundra are 6 to 10 inches a year because most of it falls as snow instead. It is basically a very cold desert.
Fredston, J.A., and D. Fesler. 1994. Snow sense: a guide to evaluating snow avalanche hazard. Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Anchorage, AK.
The purpose of this short memo is to discuss aspects of use, applicability, and environmental impacts of porous pavements as gleaned from practical findings and pertinent examples. A porous pavement is one with high enough porosity and permeability to allow rain and snowmelt to pass through it, thereby reducing the runoff from a site and surrounding areas. In intensely built up areas, pavements account for more than half of all the land, and for about two-thirds of total built cover (Ferguson, 2005, 2-3). Parking lots, in particular, account for the majority of paved areas. Pervious paving materials have the capability of providing a dual purpose in parking and other areas with low to moderate traffic; they serve both as a parking/traffic area and to manage stormwater.
Facts and Statistics about Snowmobiling - ISMA (International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association)-Information for snowmobilers: snowmobiling trails and safety; facts and trends. n.d. 13 01 2014. .
Now that cold weather is just around the corner, you want to make sure that your asphalt driveway is properly winterized. Freezing temperatures and winter snow can wreak havoc on your asphalt, especially if it’s already showing signs of damage. Those small hairline cracks can turn into gaping holes if left to the harsh, winter weather. Here are some step-by-step instructions for winterizing your asphalt driveway.
The upper half of Denali is permanently covered with snow and many glaciers, some more than 30 miles long. The mountain’s extreme cold, which can be minus 75 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill down to minus 118 F can freeze a
The Tundra suffers a very harsh climate. Because of this fact most of the area
Mead, H. K. (2002, June 22). Office of the Inspector General. Retrieved Feb 12, 2014, from US Department of Transportation: http://www2.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/files/pdfdocs/cc2002180.pdf
I am visiting Yukon, Canada. The longitude and latitude for this destination is 64.2823° N & 135.0000° W. Yukon is classified as a tundra biome. The word tundra comes from the Finnish word “tunturia” which means treeless plain. The tundra biome is commonly known for its frost capped landscapes, incredibly low temperatures, and little to no precipitation. Another thing the tundra is known for is its permanent layer of permafrost, which is a subsoil and partially decayed organic matter. The arctic tundra is located in the northern hemisphere, where it is known to house the coldest places. The average temperature is 10 to 20 degrees F. The lowest temperature the tundra can reach is 60 degrees below F. It has very short growing seasons. The summer season is only a short 50 to 60 days. In the middle of summer, the sun can stay out in sight for at least 24 hours. During the summer, the temperature can reach up to 50 degrees F, as a
Snow plowing isn't the only way to remove snow or ice from the road. As the trusted snow plow seller in Rochester, NY, Townline Equipment Sales knows what does and doesn't work. Not only do they offer the best new and used snow plows, they also sell salt and sand spreaders for snow & ice removal purposes.
Travelling across the country in an old Ford Model T would never be easy; but, traveling in a Model T on a bumpy dirt road with ruts and holes, almost unbearable. Thankfully, many advances in America’s roadway systems came about in the 1900s. Traveling from one city to another became not only quicker and easier, but also safer, thanks to the many innovations that roadways experienced over the last century. Many engineers put in a lot of time and effort to make these innovations and need to be accredited for their scientific achievements. However, getting to the roadway system that we take for granted today did not happen overnight. It took new technology and some brilliant minds to bring the pieces together to form the luxury of nice, smooth
The ice on the roads during the winter months is very dangerous. Vehicles could slip on the ice and end up in an accident. Because of this, salt is placed on the roads so that accidents don't occur as often. Freezing point depression lowers the freezing point of water when the salt comes into contact. Salt is used to melt ice, and gets in between the ice’s molecules which then changes the freezing point. The more salt, that ice has, the quicker the ice will melt.
The Central Artery Tunnel Project, more commonly known as the Big Dig, is said to be the largest, most complex and technologically challenging highway project in American history. It is the culmination of decades of planning and forethought and is hoped to alleviate the traffic congestion that has plagued the Boston area since the invention of the automobile. The project incorporates a major underground highway system, a revolutionary cable-stayed bridge, and a series of impressive tunnel crossings, each a considerable feat on their own, all constructed in the midst of a bustling city.