Seasonal changes over 2 years (2004–2006) in soil moisture content ( v) of frozen alpine frost meadow soils of the QinghaiTibet plateau permafrost region under three different levels of vegetation cover were investigated. Vegetation cover and air temperature changes had significant effects (synergistic effect) on v and its distribution in the soil profile. During periods of soil freezing or tha...

Frost heave of soils involves complex coupled interactions among moisture, heat, and stress, which can cause serious damage to cold regions engineering. In this paper, a series one-directional freezing experiments were implemented for the Tibetan clay with rigid restraint in an open system. The varying characteristics temperature, frost-heaving force, water replenishment during process analyzed...

This paper recapitulates certain studies of cycles of freezing and thawing in the ground sponsored by the US Corps of Engineers and begun over 45 years ago by the writer and H.P. Aldrich, Jr. Because the latent heat of the soil moisture renders such problems nonlinear, these two MIT professors, together with R.F. Scott and other students, pioneered the use of digital and analog computers for su...

Seasonal cycles of freezing and thawing influence surface energy and water cycle fluxes. Specifically, soil frost can lead to the reduction in infiltration and an increase in runoff response, resulting in a greater potential for soil erosion. An increase in the number of soil freeze–thaw cycles may reduce soil compaction, which could affect various hydrologic processes. In this study, the autho...

Solifluction is a widespread periglacial phenomenon. Little is known about present solifluction rates in Austria. The author monitored five solifluction lobes during a four-year period. Annual rates of surface velocity, vertical velocity profiles, depths of movement, and volumetric velocities were quantified using near-surface markers and painted lines. Environmental conditions were assessed us...

Increased soil strength due to soil compaction or soil drying is a major limitation to root growth and crop productivity. Roots need to exert higher penetration force, resulting in increased penetration stress when elongating in soils of greater strength. This study aimed to quantify how the genotypic diversity of root tip geometry and root diameter influences root elongation under different le...

Increased soil strength due to soil compaction or soil drying is a major limitation to root growth and crop productivity. Roots need to exert higher penetration force, resulting in increased penetration stress when elongating in soils of greater strength. This study aimed to quantify how the genotypic diversity of root tip geometry and root diameter influences root elongation under different le...

A computer simulation of cone penetration in layered soil was carried out using axisymmetric finite element (FE) to investigate soil deformation and soil hardpan prediction during cone penetration. The FE analysis was performed in ABAQUS, commercially available FE package. Soil was considered as a non­ linear elastic plastic material modeled using Drucker Prager material model with hardening op...