Abstract: A number of dry bridges have been built to substitute for the roadbed on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, China. The aim of this study was to investigate the exothermic process of cast-in-place (CIP) pile foundation of a dry bridge and its harm to the stability of nearby frozen ground. We present 3D heat conduction functions of a concrete pile and of frozen ground with related boundaries. Our analysis is based on the theory of heat conduction and the exponent law describing the adiabatic temperature rise caused by hydration heat. Results under continuous and initial conditions were combined to establish a finite element model of a CIP pile-frozen ground system for a dry bridge under actual field conditions in cold regions. Numerical results indicated that the process could effectively simulate the exothermic process of CIP pile foundation. Thermal disturbance to frozen ground under a long dry bridge caused by the casting temperature and hydration heat of CIP piles was substantial and long-lasting. The simulated thermal analysis results agreed with field measurements and some significant rules relating to the problem were deduced and conclusions reached.

Key words: Exothermic process of hydration heat, Cast-in-place (CIP) pile foundation, Dry bridge, Thermal agitation, Frozen ground, Qinghai-Tibet Railway

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