The Formation of Ice Lenses in Unidirectional and Multidirectional Freezing Soil

Experimental studies were conducted on unidirectional and multidirectional freezing of artificial soils in a rectangular cavity. The ice lenses were observed through transparent plexiglass plate. Temperature gradients in soil specimen were obtained during freezing process. The experimental results indicated that the temperature gradient may change the shape of ice lenses. The amount of frost heave of multidirectional freezing was less than unidirectional freezing, so multidirectional freezing mode is helpful to restrain vertical frost heave.