Influencing factors for geosynthetic-reinforced slope performance under freeze-thaw cycles

In seasonal frozen zones, reinforced soil (RS) slopes are susceptible to uneven settlement or potential slope instability due to prolonged freeze-thaw (FT) cycles. To investigate the effects of cycle number, soil moisture content, and reinforcement type on the performance of RS slopes under FT conditions, five model tests on RS slopes were conducted. The test results indicated that as the number of FT cycles increased, the amplitude of temperature fluctuations within the slope gradually decreased, moisture gradually accumulated near the slope surface and bottom, and slope deformation and reinforcement strain progressively accumulated. With an increase in the initial soil moisture content, the temperature changes within the slope slowed, the amplitude of temperature fluctuations reduced, internal moisture migration gradually intensified, and slope deformation and reinforcement strain increased progressively. Differences in stiffness, permeability, and soil-reinforcement interface behavior among reinforcement types led to variations in the performance of reinforced soil slopes with different reinforcement materials. Additionally, based on theoretical analysis, the influence of FT cycles on the thermal conductivity coefficient of RS slopes was studied. The results indicated that as the number of FT cycles increased, the soil thermal conductivity coefficient gradually rose under the combined effects of FT cycles and external loads.