Numerical analysis of Freeze-Thaw effects on geosynthetic-reinforced soils

Abstract

Freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles induce road degradation in seasonally affected regions by causing frost heave, thaw settlement, and overall structural deterioration. This study investigates the role of geosynthetics in improving road resilience under F-T conditions through numerical modeling. A coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) model was developed to simulate the interactions of heat transfer, water movement, and soil deformation during F-T cycles. The numerical model was first validated against laboratory frost heave data for unreinforced soil and subsequently extended to analyze geosynthetic-reinforced soil. The performance of reinforced and unreinforced soils was compared under identical THM conditions. The results demonstrate that the proposed THM model effectively captures soil response during freeze–thaw loading and highlights the beneficial role of geosynthetics in mitigating freeze–thaw–induced deformation.