Introduction
Permafrost is defined as soil that remains frozen for more than two years. At elevations less than 304.8 m (1000 ft.), it is frequently encountered north of latitude 60. It may also be...
The Need for Geotechnical Investigation
Knowledge of the subsurface conditions is needed to decide which type of foundation to use. In the discontinuous permafrost zone, some generalizations may be made about the location of...
Structurally Enhanced Foundations: A Functional Solution to Thaw Strain in Frozen Sand and Gravel
Some building sites with perennially frozen soil profiles are developed using nonelevated, conventional-appearing foundation systems. These sites consist of frozen sands and gravels and...
Marginal Permafrost a Foundation Material in Transition
At the edges of the world's cold regions lie areas of marginal permafrost. It is a changing landscape that seems to be growing in extent, yet it retains chameleon-like qualities...
Some Case Histories of Pile Foundations in Permafrost
Foundations for permafrost conditions should conform to one of three basic design principles: keep it frozen, let it thaw, or thaw the ground before construction. To keep the permafrost...
Conquering the Cold
Three projects�a water treatment plant, an airport, and a hydroelectric plant�illustrate how practicing engineering in Alaska differs from working in the contiguous 48 states. Permafrost,...
Bringing Low Flow to Eskimos
Engineers in Alaska initiated a program to bring potable water and wastewater service to a town of 500 Yup'ik Eskimos. This entailed building a 7.2 km boardwalk over permafrost...
Computer Predictions of Thaw Beneath Gravel Embankments on Warm Permafrost
A computer model was used to simulate the freeze-thaw effects of gravel embankments on warm permafrost typical of south-central Alaska using a one-dimensional finite-difference code, FREZ1D....
Treatment of Unstable Foundation Areas in Alaska's Pavement Management System
In the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Pavement Management System (PMS) unstable foundation areas are defined as sections of roadway that experience...
Pressuremeter Stress Relaxation Testing in a Permafrost Tunnel
In the spring of 1988, a geotechnical testing program was carried out in the U.S. Army CRREL Permafrost Tunnel, located at Fox, near Fairbanks, Alaska. In all, some thirty cone penetrometer...
Innovative Foundation Designs for Permafrost Conditions in the Arctic
This paper describes the engineering solution to restore the structural properties of permafrost at a site location in the Western Operating Area of the Prudhoe Bay Field. Steel pile supports...
Tapping A Glacier
The Eklutna water project receives a 1988 Outstanding Civil Engineering Award of merit. The project�a 30 mile pipeline and treatment plant that brings glacial runoff from Eklutna lake...
Embankment Design and Construction in Cold Regions
This book is a state-of-the-practice report on embankment design and construction in cold regions involving either permafrost or seasonal frost areas. The similarities and differences...
The Alaskan Arctic Coast: Wetland or Desert?
Deserts can be defined by low precipitation and lack of water. The Alaskan Arctic coast receives approximately 18 cm (7 in. ) of precipitation annually and for 8 months of the year there...
Natural Stabilization of an Eroded Permafrost Site
The paper referred to in this abstract discusses the erosional processes during and after the initial failure, proposed solutions to repair and stabilize the site, and details of the performance...
Special Pile Foundations for a Coastal Permafrost Site
The design of the plant's foundations had to address several challenging geotechnical conditions. These included (1) 'warm' (close to 32 degree F)...
Building Foundation on Thawed Soil and Permafrost
The site of a planned 10,000 square foot State Youth Facility in Bethel, Alaska was found to be underlain by discontinuous permafrost. This paper describes the geophysical and geotechnical...
Stabilization of a Permafrost Subsidence in the Airport Runway at Bethel Alaska
During the construction of the extension to the Bethel Airport runway in 1969, it was necessary to construct a fill across a small gully. The subbase material in the gully contained some...
Development of a Self-Heating Thermal Probe for Saline Permafrost
Geothermal modelling and prototype testing are described to support the development of a self-heating thermal probe. This has application for in-situ determination of the amount of unfrozen...
Ester West Slide?A Case History
An 80 foot high embankment was benched into graphitic schist permafrost on a north facing slope approximately 25 miles west of Fairbanks, Alaska. Soon after construction approximately...
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