Locating the frozen–unfrozen interface in soils using time-domain reflectometry

Abstract

/npsi/ctrl?lang=en http://nparc.cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/npsi/ctrl?lang=fr Access and use of this website and the material on it are subject to the Terms and Conditions set forth at http://nparc.cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/npsi/jsp/nparc_cp.jsp?lang=en NRC Publications Archive Archives des publications du CNRCThis publication could be one of several versions: author's original, accepted manuscript or the publisher's version. / La version de cette publication peut être l'une des suivantes : la version prépublication de l'auteur, la version acceptée du manuscrit ou la version de l'éditeur. Geotechnical Journal, 19, pp. 511-517, 1982 Locating the frozen-unfrozen interface in soils using time-domain reflectometry Baker, T. H. W.; Davis, J. L.; Hayhoe, H. N.; Topp, G. C. The time-domain reflectometry technique was compared with the temperature measurement method for locating the frozen-unfrozen interface in water and sandy soils. This technique depends on the high-frequency (1-1000 MHz) electrical properties of water that change significantly and abruptly between the liquid and solid phases. Parallel wire transmission lines were inserted into the soil to guide electromagnetic pulses produced by a time-domain reflectometer (TDR). The frozen-unfrozen interface produced reflections measured by the TDR which were in turn used to locate the interface as it moved along the transmission line. In the laboratory it was possible to locate the interface using the TDR to within k0.5 cm and in the field to within +2.4 cm. These errors were equal to those associated with the temperature measurements. Canadian

Time domain reflectometry as a field method for measuring water content and soil water electrical conductivity at a continuous permafrost site

“…A further advantage of the TDR method in the permafrost environment is that other parameters in addition to y and s w can be measured. This includes the location of the frozen±unfrozen boundary (Baker et al, 1982) and estimates of the porosity Z of the soil. The latter can be obtained under saturated soil conditions (assuming that y sat Z).…”

Monitoring Changes in Total and Unfrozen Water Content in Seasonally Frozen Soil Using Time Domain Reflectometry and Neutron Moderation Techniques

“…Further confirmation that TDR measures unfrozen water content was given by Smith and Patterson [1984]. Baker et al [1982] used TDR to locate the frozen-unfrozen interface in soils. TDR has been applied under field conditions to measure unfrozen water content in frozen soil [Hayhoe et al, 1983b;Stein and Kane, 1983;Bailey and Hayhoe, 1984].…”

Large-scale laboratory tests on artificial ground freezing under seepage-flow conditions

“…7. Grain size distribution and mineralogical composition of model material proportional to the square of the dielectric constant (Baker et al, 1982). Since the dielectric constant of water (about 81) differs significantly from that of ice (about 3), the unfrozen water content can be determined indirectly with good accuracy.…”