Improved engineering solutions for thermal design of artificial ground freezing

Resum

Artificial ground freezing is a method used in civil and mining engineering for ground stabilisation and groundwater cut-off. In order to design these works, thermal calculations with phase change are required, which can be performed by numerical models or analytical solutions. In this thesis, the parameters which influence the accuracy of numerical methods were investigated by means of a sensitivity analysis and the results were condensed in a code of good practice. A verified numerical model was used to investigate the accuracy of analytical solutions. It was concluded that the most accurate solution for the single freeze pipe problem is Ständer’s. Additionally, Sanger & Sayles’ solution for the single freeze pipe has been adjusted, obtaining a significant accuracy improvement. Finally, experimental data were used to confirm the conclusions.