Compaction of Soil under Freezing Conditions and Subsequent Thawing

This paper is a report of the investigation by laboratory and reference material of the practicability of compaction of frozen or freezing soils for such uses as airfields and roads. The work consisted of the determination of the major variable factors involved and an approximate verification in the laboratory of the effects of those factors. Three natural, sandy soils were tested, and the results indicate generally that use of frozen soils is probably limited to a very narrow range of moisture content near that of hygroscopic moisture and that their use rapidly becomes less practicable as moisture contents increase and as soil gradation goes from the granular into the silt and clay range.