Effectiveness of Ionic Polymer Soil Stabilizers on Warm Frozen Soil

Warm frozen soil has characteristics such as low shear strength and high compressibility. To improve its mechanical strength, the ionic polymer soil stabilizers (IPSS): named XRH stabilizer and acid cation exchange resin (CER) were adopted for reinforcing the warm frozen soil from the Beiluhe region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. To evaluate the effects of IPSS on warm frozen soil and analyze the mechanisms responsible, measurements were made of the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of warm frozen soil, both untreated and following treatment with IPSS. The addition of IPSS to the soil resulted in a significant decrease in the plasticity index, freezing temperature, and cation-exchange capacity of soil. The warm frozen soil were reinforced with XRH and CER, the cohesion increased by 87.9% and 43.1%, respectively, and the compressibility decreased by 44.5% and 41.1%, respectively. The trends of mechanical strength and unfrozen water content of reinforced warm frozen soil were the same, with extreme values being observed in response to treatment with an IPSS content of about 1% (optimal proportion). In addition, the curing mechanism of IPSS on warm frozen soil was analyzed. Overall, applying IPSS to the soil was an effective and feasible measure for reinforcing a warm frozen soil foundation.