Abstract
Frost action (heaving and thawing) is a perennial problem encountered in the design, construction, and management of civil engineering structures, particularly road pavements in cold regions and areas that experience seasonal sub-freezing temperatures. This paper reviews the existing methods for frost heave mitigation and proposes an innovative approach through engineered water repellency. Soil was collected from a test plot at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport and treated with a commercially available organosilane. Preliminary results indicate an increase in the maximum dry density from 17.54 kN/m(3) to 17.66 kN/m(3) and a decrease in the optimum moisture content from 17.36% to 11.75% after treatment. Data obtained from performance tests carried out under sub-freezing weather conditions indicated that the treatment was effective in limiting the infiltration and migration of water into the soil matrix when compared with the untreated soil. As such, engineered water repellency may be a viable solution for airports and Departments of Transportation seeking methods to mitigate frost action.