Snowcover effect in open crawl space on temperature conditions of subgrade soils

At building design stages in permafrost conditions, it is important to conduct thermal analysis to assess temperature changes in the operation of subgrade soils. In calculations, geological factors are considered, such as lithological structure, physical and thermal characteristics of soils, geocryological (rock temperature) and climatic (ambient temperature, wind speed, height and density of snowcover). The snowcover height has a significant impact on soil freezing in winter. Existing requirements are not often satisfied for clearing blown snow in the open crawl space, that requires consideration of changes in geocryological conditions. For buildings with open crawl space, the snowcover height depends on the building dimensions, however, the principles for changing the height are not standardized. Since the results of thermal engineering calculations are used to select the parameters of pile foundations and determine their load-bearing capacity, it is necessary consides factors influencing the calculation results of thermal engineering.

Purpose: The aim of this work is to determine the most reliable way to specify snowcover in the open crawl space to predict thermal calculations.

Methodology/approach: Different snowcover types are for considered for structures with the open crawl space with the plan dimensions over 3 m and for vertical tanks of a diameter 25 m. Thermotechnical calculations and verification with geotechnical monitoring data are carried out.

Research findings: It is shown that the snowcover height affects the calculation results, when using different methods of snow drifting. The temperature difference at the same depths and at depths below 11 m is insignificant for all types of subgrade soil. The definition methods are determined for the snowcover, that have the highest correlation with the real temperature of the subgrade soil.

1. Konstantinov P.Y. The influence of soil moisture and snow cover on the thermal state of permafrost soils in Central Yakutia. In: Proc. All-Russ. Sci. Conf. ‘Geographical Studies of Yakutia: History, Modernity and Prospects’. Yakutsk: “Sfera”, 2014. Pp. 190−194. EDN: TJIBHX (In Russian)

2. Vede P.Y., Zhzhonykh A.M., Pakhomov P.S. Thermal resistance of snowcover to predict permafrost soil thawing. In: Proc. All-Russ. Sci. Conf. devoted to the 40th anniversary of the Krasnoyarsk Civil Engineering Institute. Krasnoyarsk: Siberian Federal University, 2022. Pp. 473−476. EDN: AJZFMG (In Russian)

3. Sherstyukov A.B., Anisimov O.A. The snowcover effect on soil surface temperature based on observational data. Meteorologiya i gidrologiya. 2018; (2): 17−25. EDN: NRINXZ (In Russian)

4. Osokin N.I., Sosnovsky A.V., Chernov R.A. Thermal conductivity of snow and its variability. Kriosfera Zemli. 2017; 21 (3): 60−68. DOI: 10.21782/KZ1560-7496-2017-3(60-68). EDN: YPTHAJ (In Russian)

5. Sherstyukov A.B. Correlation of soil temperature with air temperature and snow depth in Russia. Kriosfera Zemli. 2008; 12 (1): 79−87. EDN: ILKVVN (In Russian)

6. Osokin N.I., Sosnovsky A.V., Nakalov P.R., Nenashev S.V. Thermal resistance of snowcover and its influence on soil freezing. Led i sneg. 2013; 53, (1): 93−103. EDN: OMCRUG (In Russian)

7. Nikishin A.V., Nabokov A.V., Ogorodnova Yu.V., Korkishko O.A. Application of various types of temperature stabilization systems to oil and gas industry facilities. Inzhenernyi vestnik Dona. 2017; 2 (45): 136. EDN: ZEOOHF (In Russian)

8. Kornilov T.A., Alekseev N.N. Architectural and constructive techniques in design of energy-efficient Arctic settlements. Academia. Arkhitektura i stroitel'stvo. 2023; (3): 54−63. DOI: 10.22337/2077-9038-2023-3-54-63. EDN: HNNBQR (In Russian)

9. Ukhova Yu.A. Structural analysis of technogenic impacts on permafrost soil temperature in the Norilsk industrial region. In: Annual Session of the RAS Scientific Council on Geoecology, Geotechnology and Hydrogeology in Memory of Sergeev ‘Sergeev Readings’. V.I. Osipov, Ed., vol. 10. Moscow: GEOS, 2008. Pp. 265−270. EDN: VJTFBJ (In Russian)

10. Romantsov R.V., Krasnobaev I.V. Suitability of covered settlement with artificial microclimate to complex geocryological conditions of the Arctic. Izvestiya Kazanskogo gosudarstvennogo arkhitekturno-stroitel'nogo universiteta. 2017; 1 (39): 73−81. EDN: YIOAQR (In Russian)

11. Omelchenko O.M. Assessing the need to restore the performance of thermal stabilizers in the base structures. In: Proc. 66th Sci. Conf. of Students and Young Scientists, Tomsk, September 21–25, 2020. Pp. 103−107. EDN: RNWLCR (In Russian)

12. Kalinin K.A. Features of structural solutions of buildings for the northern construction-climatic zone. In: Proc. 63rd Int. Sci. Conf. ‘Technocongress’, Kemerovo, April 12, 2021. Kemerovo: “Pluto”, 2021. Pp. 16−18. EDN: DNBVHE (In Russian)

13. Primakov S.S., Puldas L.A., Zabora I.V. Calculation of thermal interaction of various structures with permafrost foundation soils. Vestnik Tyumenskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Fiziko-matematicheskoe modelirovanie. Neft', gaz, energetika. 2019; 5 (2): 43−58. DOI: 10.21684/2411-7978-2019-5-2-43-58. EDN: XCBEBL (In Russian)

14. Kutlyeva Z.R., Zakirova E.A., Garris N.A. Thermal calculations during reservoir operation in permafrost soils. In: Proc. 8th Int. Sci. Conf. ‘Reliability and Safety of Main Pipeline Transport’, V.K. Lipsky, Ed. Novopolotsk, 2014. Pp. 71−73. EDN: WYTSVP (In Russian)

15. Nazirov R.A., Zhzhonykh A.M., Vede P.Yu., Andyuseva A.G. Thermal engineering analysis of pile foundation on permafrost soils. In: Proc. 1st All-Russ. Sci. Conf. ‘Yenisei Thermophysics’, Krasnoyarsk, March 28–31. 2023. Pp. 124−125. EDN: SQXNWZ (In Russian)