Numerical simulation of high plasticity silt with mPCM additives subjected to freeze-thaw cycles
Transportation Geotechnics, cilt.62, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 62
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2026.102138
- Dergi Adı: Transportation Geotechnics
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Geobase, INSPEC
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Finite element method, Freeze-thaw, High plasticity silty soil, Model test, Phase change materials, Thermal parameters
- Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Freeze-thaw (FT) cycles cause significant deterioration in the thermo-mechanical (TM) performance of frost-susceptible soils, posing serious challenges for transportation infrastructure in cold regions. This study investigates the effectiveness of microencapsulated phase change materials (mPCM) in improving the FT performance of high-plasticity silty soil (MH) through combined experimental and numerical approaches. Laboratory tests were conducted on soil specimens containing different mPCM (0,5,8,10%) subjected to FT (0,1,3,5,7,9,11) cycles to evaluate changes in strength, compressibility, hydraulic conductivity, and thermal behavior. The static load-penetration relationship and internal temperature behavior were investigated using large-scale physical model tests and micro scanning conducted under 10% mPCM and 11 FT conditions, as determined by laboratory experiments. Finite element models incorporating coupled TM behavior were calibrated using laboratory results, physical model data and measured temperature histories. Different constitutive models and material parameters were evaluated to identify the most suitable representations under FT conditions. The calibrated framework was applied to a highway embankment case to assess long-term settlement under traffic loading. Results show that although mPCM slightly reduces initial strength, it significantly improves FT resistance by stabilizing temperature fluctuations and limiting mechanical degradation. Compared to untreated soil, mPCM-treated embankments exhibited lower strength loss and reduced post-FT settlement. The key contribution of this study is the integration of experimentally measured temperature data obtained from model tests conducted under controlled freeze–thaw conditions into the numerical modeling process. This enables the calibration of realistic thermal parameters and constitutive models for mPCM-treated soils and their direct application in field-scale analyses.