1. Foundations in permafrost soil
(BLDG 6501: FOUNDATION ENGINEERING)
Professor: Dr. Adel Hanna
Student ID
Hossein Khodaverdipoursarbandi 40003814

2. Introduction
Types of permafrost
Insulation Use
Foundation design
Final considerations
2
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

3. 3
Permafrost:
• Any soil that has remained continuously frozen for at least 2 years
Where to find?
• In U.S.A , Canada and most industrialized nations of the world
• Anywhere there is a freezer plant for cold storage ( a frozen
orange juice manufacturing facility)
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

4. 4
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

5. 5
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

6. 6
Types of permafrost:
• Thaw-stable: A soil whose water content is at saturation
or less (safe to build)
• Thaw-unstable :
If the frozen soil’s moisture content is
greater than saturation
additional space is required for the excess
ice (water when it thaws)
When this soil thaws, soil grains sink until
they are resting against each other
This overall consolidation= thaw-
instability
Settlement of the surface and foundation
failures
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

7. 7
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Literature
Review
Component
Design
Energy
Modeling
Wood-framed
VS ICFs
Conclusion
References

8. 8
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

9. 9
Proper Materials for insulation
Material Discription Benefits drawbacks
Fiberglass Most commonly
modern
insulation
material
High thermal resistance, relatively
inexpensive, resist mold an fungus
,easy to install
Little resistance to
moisture
Foam
polystyrene
(XEPS)
Widely used in
construction
for intrusion water and in buried
situation, high water resistance
insulation, ability to maintain its
thickness under load
Very little losing
thermal resistance
at some adverse
applications
Molded
polystyrene
board (EPS)
A cohesive solid
with variable
density
More water resistance than XEPS, Its voids provide a
path to enter to
the board and
absorb water
Foamed
polyurethane
Unique
advantages for
special buildings
Ability of spraying makes it
attractive for filling cracks and
sealing openings, stud spaces in
pre-built wall sections, One of the
highest thermal resistance
Lower thermal
conductivity
before aging,
expensive, open-
cell-structure,
easily damaged
during
construction
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

10. 10
Slurried Pile Foundation:
• Developed conventional foundation
• Piles embedded to permafrost
• Piles extend above the surface to raise the building off the
ground (at least 2ft, 0.6m)
• Adfreeze bond in the permafrost layer provides required
support for piles (heaving force)
• Adfreeze bond in active layer can be eliminated by using
sleeves or coating on the piles
• Expensive foundation but far less costly than remedial
actions
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

11. 11
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

12. 12
Driven piles:
• Steel pipe piles driven into frozen soil
• When soil is relatively dry, uniform ,fine grained material
• Pile driving difficulty increases with decreasing soil tempreture
Load capacity:
• Long settlement of pile is called Creep
• Pile should keep the secondary creep to prevent deformation
Pile lenghth
• The depth of pile into permafrost should not be less than twice the
thickness of active layer
Adfreeze bond strength calculation
• The temperature dependant
• Colder temperature = stronger adfreeze bond
Shallow foundation
• When neither drilling nor driving equipment is available
• Not as reliable as deep piles
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

13. 13
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

14. 14
Natural convection pile foundation:
• To increase the rate of heat out of the soil
• Enhancing the ability of permafrost to survive summer or
other increased heat input
• Without the aid of external power
• Classified as either 1.open or 2.closed (single-phase or
two phase)
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

15. 15
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation
Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

16. 16
Surface foundation:
The post and pad foundation
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration

17. 17
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration
The adjustable post and pad foundation
Rigid three
dimensional
truss foundation

18. 18
Outline
Introduction
Types of
permafrost
Insulation Use
Foundation
Design
Final
consideration
 Air flow beneath the elevated foundation
• all elevated foundations rely on free circulation of air
beneath the building to protect the permafrost
• Preventing debris or snow to accumulate there
• Skirting around the building can destroy the function of air
flow
 The Surrounding Site
• The surrounding area in the immediate vicinity of the
building must be cleared
• The maintenance problems of water and sewer lines
connected to the building
 Access to the site
• The driveway connected to the building should be covered
by a thick layer of non-frost-susceptible fill and it is better to
be on the north or northeast of the building (less sun)

19. 19