Small-scale freezing sampling on loose sand and effect of freezing rate on sample density

Abstract

This paper presents an evaluation of the quality of samples obtained from loose sandy soils using a small-scale freezing sampling method. Utilizing a pressure chamber to account for in-situ confining pressures, we focused on changes in relative density (D_r) and small-strain shear modulus (G₀) to assess the quality of frozen samples extracted. We investigated the effects of freezing speed on sample integrity. Experimental results indicated that the presence of the freezing tube tends to densify loose sandy soils, and that higher freezing speeds can lead to frost heave. These findings suggest that by implementing appropriate freezing tube insertion methods and controlling the freezing speed, the small-scale freezing sampling method can be effectively applied to loose sandy soils.