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Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2021, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (5): 372-378.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2021.21027.

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Lessons from construction and health condition evaluation of high-grade highway in permafrost regions

JianHong Fang1,2,QingZhi Wang3(),KeJin Wang4   

  1. 1.Qinghai Research Institute of Transportation, Xining, Qinghai 810016, China
    2.Qinghai Research and Observation Base, Key Laboratory of Highway Construction & Maintenance Technology in Permafrost Region, Ministry of Transport, Xining, Qinghai 810016, China
    3.School of Civil Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai 810016, China
    4.Qinghai Transportation Holding Group Co. LTD, Xining, Qinghai 810016, China
  • Received:2021-04-05 Accepted:2021-07-21 Online:2021-10-31 Published:2021-12-03
  • Contact: QingZhi Wang E-mail:wangqingzhi87@qhu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41801046);the Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province(2021-ZJ-716);the Transportation Science and Technology Project of Qinghai Province(2019-06 & 2018-02)

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Abstract:

Located in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, the Gonghe-Yushu high-grade highway was the first of its kind in plateau permafrost regions. Most of the road sections along the high-grade highway are unstable or extremely unstable warm permafrost with an average annual ground temperature above -1 °C, which is vulnerable to global warming and human engineering activities. This paper describes permafrost characteristics, roadbed design, and operation of the Gonghe-Yushu high-grade highway in detail. It is found that thaw settlement of warm and ice-rich permafrost is the main cause of subgrade subsidence in permafrost sections of this highway due to insufficient permafrost survey and drainage design. It is recommended that the interception and drainage system's design be optimized, and the permafrost upper limit and the variation of ground temperature be further investigated to provide essential data for the treatment of highway distress. It should be emphasized that protecting permafrost soil environment and optimized engineering design are crucial to successful high-grade highway engineering in permafrost regions.

Key words: permafrost, high-grade highway, active cooling measure, distress

Figure 1

The route of the Gonghe-Yushu High-grade Highway (Map from Google)"

Table 1

Distribution of frozen soil along the Gonghe-Yushu high-grade highway"

Type of frozen soilLength (km)Percentage
Permafrost227.7762%
Seasonally frozen soil132.2338%

Table 2

Permafrost distribution along the Gonghe-Yushu high-grade highway"

TypeLength (km)Percentage
Ice-rich Permafrost92.4540.6%
Ice-poor Permafrost127.7656.1%
Permafrost in Tunnel7.563.3%

Figure 2

Challenging geological conditions of the Gonghe-Yushu high-grade highway. (a) Permafrost core near Bayankara Mountain; (b) Exposed ice-rich permafrost near Changshi Mountain; (c) Ice course in the surrounding rock of Jiangluling Tunnel; (d) Soil ice course exposed by foundation excavation near the Charaping Bridge"

Figure 3

Examples of adopted embankment cooling measures along the Gonghe-Yushu high-grade highway"

Figure 4

Distress observed along the Gonghe-Yushe high-grade highway. (a) Local subgrade settlement; (b) Differential subgrade settlement; (c) Water accumulation along the highway; (d) Longitudinal and transverse cracking in the pavement"

Table 3

Health conditions of the high-grade highway subgrade in permafrost regions"

LevelExcellentGoodMediumInferiorPoor
PHSCI≥90≥80, <90≥70, <80≥60，<70<60
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