Cut-Slope Icing Prevention: Case Study of the Seasonal Frozen Area of Western China

Abstract

Icing caused by the construction of cut-slope roadways is a severe problem in cold regions and is difficult to mitigate. This study proposes a method for preventing icing on cut-slope roadways. A new structure for icing prevention was designed and constructed in the field. The key points of the proposed structure are the layered insulation drainage ditch and insulated facing wall. This structure is designed to ensure that water outcrops located on cut slopes and the groundwater drainage ditch remain unfrozen during winter. Surface water is drained through an upper open gutter during the warm season, and groundwater from the cut slope is drained through the insulated blind ditch. The air temperature, ground temperature under the pavement, and temperature of the stone blind ditch are presented and analyzed. The field experiment proved that the proposed structure performs well and effectively mitigates icing on cut-slope roadways.