Analysis of thermal insulation and frost prevention of Dongxing swelling rock tunnel at Jilin-Tumen-Hunchun high-speed railway

The frost damages in tunnel are closely related to the temperature distribution of surrounding rock. So it is the key to obtain temperature distribution of surrounding rock to prevent the frost damages in tunnel. This proposal is motivated by the development of the tunnel construction in cold regions. By relying on the construction of Dongxing swelling rock tunnel at the Jilin-Tumen-Hunchun high-speed railway, a proposed improved thermal insulation and anti-frost method based upon the traditional anti-frost method was developed, which is combined with the special engineering geological and hydrological conditions of this tunnel. The temperature field of lining-surrounding rock during the whole freeze-thaw cycle during the construction period is monitored on site, which provides a reference for comparison with the results of distribution and variation of temperature field in surrounding rock obtained from the traditional anti-frost method and improved thermal insulation and anti-frost method. Based on the numerical method, a finite element model of temperature field of lining-surrounding rock for the Dongxing swelling rock tunnel was established. The validation of this numerical modeling was verified by field measurement. With the temperature field distribution during the simulated operation period in Yanji, it is concluded that the improved frost prevention method has better thermal insulation and frost protection than the traditional frost prevention method. The conducted study provided useful help toward the process of prevention and control of frost damage in tunnel in seasonally frozen region.