Research themes and projects

2. Identification and characterization of thaw sensitive soils

Ice-rich permafrost at shallow depths is the most challenging terrain condition to manage for construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure, because of its spatial distribution being very difficult to predict. Thus, the objective  of this theme is to improve the capability to identify and characterize ice-rich soils, which is not only necessary for the implementation of new infrastructures, but also for effective maintenance of the existing ones.

Projects

• Geophysical methods using micro-gravimetry and thermal profiling (started in January 2013, Benoît Loranger)
• Analysis of longitudinal and transversal profiles of existing pavements, originating from the Alaska Highway (master's project started in summer 2014, Laurie-Anne Grégoire)
• In-situ oedometric tests, through development of a core barrel executing soil consolidation tests directly on the terrain (master's project completed, Cédric Flécheux)
• Mechanical behavior of marginally frozen soils (close to 0°C), by quantifying the effect of repeated loading (started in summer 2014, Mathieu Durand-Jézéquel)

3. Development of stabilization and maintenance techniques for existing and future transportation infrastructures built on unstable permafrost

Many methods have been proposed and tested to counter the effects of permafrost degradation on transportation infrastructure embankments. These methods can be classified into three categories, based on the limitation of heat intake (summer), the maximization of heat extraction (winter), and the reinforcement of embankments. The main objective of this theme is to optimize preservation strategies by assessing their application field, their performance and by documenting associated costs and implementation barriers.

Projects

• Improvement and development of thermal stabilization techniques, by laboratory and numerical modelling.
• Development of adapted materials and maintenance techniques, taking into account the following basic properties: high albedo materials, that are adjusted to cold environments, and that are easy to transport and lay down in remote locations (master's project completed, Simon Dumais, an other master's project started in summer 2014, Caroline Richard).
• Development of design criteria and maintenance procedures to support the management of road networks and/or airstrips in permafrost regions, considering local context as well as climate change (Ph.D project started in summer 2015, Xiangbing Kong).