Research Objectives:

 The overarching goal of this project is to advance the current understanding of frozen soil behavior.  Particularly, the following four main objectives can be identified:

(i)     Gain a better understanding of the key features associated with the behavior of frozen soils, including permafrost degradation, the effect of Fr-Th cycles, the impact of stress history, and the interaction between the soil-fabric and the changes in water-volume occurring during water-phase transformations.

(ii)   Produce high-quality experimental data related to the behavior of frozen soils, which will contribute to expanding the current database in this area. The experimental campaign includes a variety of stress levels, temperatures, stress history, and permafrost degradation scenarios. 

(iii) Develop advanced constitutive and numerical models to tackle problems involving frozen soils subjected to complex Fr-Th cycles and loading conditions, as well as gas migration through permafrost.

(iv)  Develop training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students on this topic.