Study on the Thermal Regime of Transportation Infrastructure Built Over Permafrost - A Case Study in Northern Canada

ABSTRACT: Permafrost in Arctic regions has experienced significant warming and is projected to continue degrading, posing challenges to the stability of transportation infrastructure built over thaw-sensitive soils. This study investigates the thermal regime of degrading permafrost beneath a road embankment. Long-term ground temperature data, collected since 2008 from both the side slope and centerline of the road embankment, provide valuable insights into the thermal responses of permafrost to construction-induced disturbances and climate change. To further examine these thermal dynamics, a two-dimensional finite-element heat conduction model incorporating ice-water phase change was developed. The model was calibrated and validated using the measured ground temperature data, enabling detailed analysis of permafrost behavior under various climate warming scenarios. The simulations provided detailed insights into the heat transfer processes, phase transitions, and thermal gradients that govern permafrost stability in the region. This research presents a comprehensive analysis of the measured thermal data and the development of a geo-thermal model to reproduce the thermal behavior of permafrost. The findings contribute to understanding permafrost stability under future climate conditions and inform the design of adaptation strategies for Arctic transportation infrastructure in Northern Canada.