Uniaxial Compression Tests on Diesel-Contaminated Frozen Silty-Soil Specimens

Abstract

Contamination of permafrost by hydrocarbons is an important issue in northern regions. In addition to harmful environmental impacts, diesel-fuel spills in permafrost associated with vehicle-storage areas, storage tanks, and pipelines can also lead to loss of strength of the frozen soils. Investigations of the reduction in strength of contaminated frozen soils have typically been restricted to salt contamination. However, the mechanical behavior of diesel-contaminated frozen soils may vary from that of salt-contaminated frozen soils. This paper presents the results of two series of unconfined uniaxial compression tests on artificial (laboratory produced) diesel-contaminated and uncontaminated frozen silty-soil specimens at two different temperatures (