The History of Frost Research in Minnesota

Abstract

Frost research in Minnesota dates back to the late 1920s, when the Minnesota Highway Department investigated the causes of frost heaves and frost boils and methods of mitigating associated problems. State highway engineers pioneered in determining the timing and amount of spring‐thaw weakening in pavements and load limitations to minimize damage. The work of committees of the Highway Research Board in such efforts and on other frost problems is reviewed. Research work at the University of Minnesota in the late 1940s for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the thermal properties of soils produced results that are still in widespread use. Graduate students' thesis subjects include a number of cold climate problems. One 1933 thesis was a study of a variety of treatments for frost heave, some of which are utilized at present. Current or planned activities in Minnesota include a Cold Weather Resource Center intended to assist agencies wishing to test products, a Cold Climate Building Research Center, and a Cold Regions Pavement Research Test Facility.