This paper presents the results of a study of the effect of different pavement design parameters on magnitude of frost heave, a major concern for pavements in cold climates. Elevations of frost pins embedded in MnROAD test sections measured over four years were analyzed, totaling to over 33,700measurements used. Annual pin elevation changes were computed to evaluatethe amount of frost heave and degree of frost heave uniformity within a cell. Statistical approaches such as visual analyses, Student-t hypothesis testing, and ANOVA analysis were used in this study to evaluate the effectof pavement design features on frost heave. The findings suggest that subgrade and base type, pavement thickness, and drainage capabilities are themajor design factors that affect frost heave.
Abstract