Study of Methods to Control Frost Action in Cold Regions Tunnels

Abstract

This paper presents a case history study of a tunnel in the cold plateau region of China. It describes the permafrost distribution of the mountain in which the tunnel is located and the observed air and surrounding rock temperatures in and outside the tunnel. By comparing these measured temperatures, it is found that the effect of the thermal insulation doors, installed at both ends of the tunnel, raises the air temperature in the tunnel higher than the antisnow shelter installed at both ends of the tunnel. The thermal insulation doors are thought to be better than the antisnow shelters in preventing the tunnel from being damaged by frost action.