4D imaging of frost heave and ice lens growth in silt using neutron and x-ray computed tomography
Abstract
Frost heave is the common phenomenon in cold climates of soil being elevated by freezing. Frost heave is caused by ice lenses forming in a spatially repeated pattern downward into the ground, driven by a temperature gradient, and requiring access to unfrozen water. Here, we present an in situ combined x-ray and neutron computed tomography study of ice lens formation and frost heave in silt. A bespoke sample environment was developed to control a vertical temperature gradient across the sample while maintaining contact between the freezing silt and an external water reservoir. Our results demonstrate that detailed and quantitative time-resolved volumetric images (“4D-CT”) can be retrieved, showing the initiation and growth of ice lenses. Finally, we discuss briefly the future possibilities our approach opens for studying phase transitions.
Article Details
Journal Info
Applied Physics Letters
American Institute of Physics
Authors (8)
Fazel Mirzaei
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) 1 , Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim,
Mukul Jaiswal
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) 1 , Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim,
Daniyal Younas
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) 1 , Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim,
Anders Kaestner
Katharina Scheidl
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) 1 , Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim,
Basab Chattopadhyay
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) 1 , Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim,
Ragnvald H. Mathiesen
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) 1 , Høgskoleringen 5, 7491 Trondheim,
Dag W. Breiby
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Høgskoleringen 5, Trondheim 7491, Norway