%A Yan Lu, Xin Yi, WenBing Yu, WeiBo Liu %T Numerical analysis on the thermal regimes of thermosyphon embankment in snowy permafrost area %0 Journal Article %D 2017 %J Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions %R 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2017.00580 %P 580-586 %V 9 %N 6 %U {http://www.scar.ac.cn/CN/abstract/article_53.shtml} %8 2017-12-01 %X Snow covers the road embankments in winter in high latitude permafrost zones. The effect of snow cover on embankments was simulated based on field measurements of boundary conditions and initial ground temperature profile in Mohe, China. The effect of thermosyphons on the embankment warmed by snow cover was evaluated by numerical simulations as well. The results indicate that the difference of thermal regimes between non-thermosyphon and thermosyphon embankments reaches to 22 m in depth below the ground surface. It is much warmer in the non-thermosyphon embankment body in winter. Affected by the snow cover, heat flux gradually spreads into the deep ground of the subgrade over time. The permafrost table under the slope toe of a thermosyphon embankment is 1.2 m higher than that of a non-thermosyphon embankment in the 20th year. In addition, the permafrost table at the slope toe of a thermosyphon embankment is 26 cm deeper over 20 years. These results indicate that thermosyphons can greatly weaken the warm effect of snow cover. However, thermosyphons cannot avoid the degradation of permafrost under the scenarios of snow cover. Therefore, composite measures need to be adopted to keep embankment stability in snowy permafrost zones.