Computer simulation of frost heave for concrete lining canal with different longitudinal joints

In order to explore the mechanism and influencing rules of concrete lining canal with different longitudinal joints to weaken frost heave, furtherly provide some effective engineering measures of anti-frost heave, finite element software ADINA was applied to simulate canal frost heaving process when setting joints respectively in the toe, 1/3 of slope, center of wider base plate and not. The temperature field, deformation field and stress field were analyzed, especially the rules of frost heaving deformation, normal and tangential frost heaving force distribution were studied. The comparative analysis indicated that setting joints reasonably not only could reduce maximum heaving quantity 61%, maximum normal frost heaving force 45% and the tangential 32%, but also weaken frost heaving damage remarkably due to more uniform distribution of frost heaving force. The descending order of the significance of anti-frost heave was setting joints in the 1/3 slope, in the toe of slope and not. But for canals of shorter slope plate and wider base plate, setting joints both in the toe of slope and center of base plate could get the best effect, which reduced maximum frost heave quantity 67%, maximum normal force 59% and the tangential 45%. The result of computer simulation agreed well with engineering practice. The study shows that computer simulation of canal by finite element model can provide the reference and the scientific basis for canal engineering design and mechanics computation in seasonal frost region.