Three-dimensional(3D)parametric measurements of individual gravels in the Gobi region using point cloud technique

Gobi spans a large area of China,surpassing the combined expanse of mobile dunes and semi-fixed dunes.Its presence significantly influences the movement of sand and dust.However,the complex origins and diverse materials constituting the Gobi result in notable differences in saltation processes across various Gobi surfaces.It is challenging to describe these processes according to a uniform morphology.Therefore,it becomes imperative to articulate surface characteristics through parameters such as the three-dimensional(3D)size and shape of gravel.Collecting morphology information for Gobi gravels is essential for studying its genesis and sand saltation.To enhance the efficiency and information yield of gravel parameter measurements,this study conducted field experiments in the Gobi region across Dunhuang City,Guazhou County,and Yumen City(administrated by Jiuquan City),Gansu Province,China in March 2023.A research framework and methodology for measuring 3D parameters of gravel using point cloud were developed,alongside improved calculation formulas for 3D parameters including gravel grain size,volume,flatness,roundness,sphericity,and equivalent grain size.Leveraging multi-view geometry technology for 3D reconstruction allowed for establishing an optimal data acquisition scheme characterized by high point cloud reconstruction efficiency and clear quality.Additionally,the proposed methodology incorporated point cloud clustering,segmentation,and filtering techniques to isolate individual gravel point clouds.Advanced point cloud algorithms,including the Oriented Bounding Box(OBB),point cloud slicing method,and point cloud triangulation,were then deployed to calculate the 3D parameters of individual gravels.These systematic processes allow precise and detailed characterization of individual gravels.For gravel grain size and volume,the correlation coefficients between point cloud and manual measurements all exceeded 0.9000,confirming the feasibility of the proposed methodology for measuring 3D parameters of individual gravels.The proposed workflow yields accurate calculations of relevant parameters for Gobi gravels,providing essential data support for subsequent studies on Gobi environments.

Effects of Different Gravel Mulched Years on Soil Microbial Flora and Physical and Chemical Properties in Gravelsand Mulched Fields

Soil microbial flora and influencing factors of soil microbes in soil and gravel-sand mixed layer（ SGSML）,roots denseness layer（ RDL）,eluviate layer（ EL） and calcium accumulation layer（ CAL） in gravel-sand mulched fields（ GSMFs） with different gravel mulched years（ 1,6,12,19 and 25 years） were studied. The results showed that in the composition of soil microbes in the GSMFs,the quantity of bacteria was the largest,followed by actinomycetes,while the number of fungi was the smallest. The total quantity of soil microorganisms in the GSMFs dropped rapidly with the increase of soil depth,which was related to the sudden decrease in the quantity of bacteria. The number of microbes in the RDL was larger than that in the SGSML with few roots due to the effects of root distribution. The number of bacteria and actinomycete in the growing season was larger than that in the non-growing season,while the quantity of fungi in the growing season was smaller than that in the non-growing season. The quantity of bacteria and fungi was the largest in the GSMFs which had been mulched with gravel for 6-12 years. With the increase of mulching time,the GSMFs aged gradually,so their quantity reduced gradually. The quantity of actinomycetes was the smallest in the GSMFs which had been mulched with gravel for 6-12 years and increased with the increase of mulching time. The number of soil microbes in the GSMFs had a good correlation with soil moisture content,p H and mulching time. Soil total carbon content was an important factor restricting the quantity of soil microbes in the GSMFs.

Assessment of Geotechnical Properties of Lateritic Gravels from South-Cameroon Road Network

The southern road network covers the eastern, central and southern administrative regions;its linear network of national and provincial roads is about 5 620 km. It was the subject of a survey for the identification of lateritic quarries. To this effect, 144 sites have been discovered. The collected lateritic gravels were subjected to identification analyzes (Granulometry, Atterberg Limits, densimetry, water content) and geotechnical characterization tests (Proctor Modified, CBR at 95% OPM). The obtained results show that the grain size has a great percentage of gravels (>60%) followed by sand. Stones silt and clay particles are poorly represented. The samples show a high plasticity in conformity with Casagrande’s plasticity diagram. The density values of the solid particles (γ s) are quite stable in the studied area and vary between 26 and 29 KN/m3 for a natural water content comprised between 10% and 20%. The modified proctor test gives an optimal water value (Wop %) comprised between 8% and 12%. Dry density values (γ d) varied between 18 and 30 KN/m3. The bearing capacity of the materials is good (30 < CBR < 90). These results permit the recommendation of the studied materials as foundation layers of roads for traffic classes between T1-T4.

Preliminary <i>k</i>-Values of Unbound Natural Quartzitic Gravels for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design

The generalized constitutive model relating the resilient modulus (MR) of flexible pavement layer materials to stress state, adopted by the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), contains a set of constants known as k-values (k1, k2, and k3) which are associated with the physical state of the layer materials. In Ghana, natural gravels constitute the predominant and sometimes the sole layer materials for most flexible pavements yet representative k-values of gravel materials, have not been determined to permit full application and implementation of the mechanistic-empirical design concept to pavements involving such materials. In this study, k-values characterising typical natural quartzitic gravels used for road construction in the country were derived by regression techniques from MR values determined using laboratory repeated load triaxial test. Using multiple linear regression technique, correlation relationships were then developed between the k-values and the physical properties of the gravels, namely, percentages of materials passing the 9.5 mm (P9.5) and 2.0 mm (P2.0) sieves, liquid limit (LL), maximum dry density (ρdmax), and optimum moisture content (wopt). The regression analysis returned k1 values which ranged between 441 and 958 with a mean of 516;k2 which varied between 0.0636 and 0.2168 with a mean value of 0.1216;and, k3 values which ranged between 0.1257 and 3.1590 with a mean value of 1.723. Contrary to what is mostly reported in literature, the analysis returned positive k3 values for all but one gravel material, suggesting stress hardening under octahedral shear stress for those materials. While an expanded sample base is required to fully characterize the whole gamut of natural gravels used in pavement construction in the country, this study on limited quartzitic gravel samples has given a good indication of strong linear correlations between the k-values and the index properties of the gravels, to permit estimates of the constants for such gravels be made where capability and opportunity for conducting resilient modulus tests do not exist.However, further work is recommended to fully characterise the exact nature of k3 values for quartzitic gravels in the country.

Characterization and Geotechnical Classification of Soils and Lateritic Gravelly Materials along the Songololo-Lufu Road Axis (Kongo Central Province, DR Congo)

This study aims to characterize from a geotechnical point of view, the soils as well as the lateritic gravels along the Songololo-Lufu road route in the Kongo Central Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ten soil samples and eight lateritic gravel samples were analysed and tested in the laboratory. For each sample, identification parameters were determined such as particle size analysis, natural water content, Atterberg limits (plasticity index and consistency index), but also compaction and lift parameters such as optimal water content, maximum dry density and CBR lift index. All materials and soils have been classified according to the Congolese Road Standard (NRC) and according to the American HRB classification. The test results show us that clay soils almost always contain between 70% and 90% fine fraction;the grained fraction represents less than 30% in clay samples. For lateritic gravels soils, the percentage of fine elements varies between 35% and 15%;in sand around 20%;the gravelly fraction represents a little more than 50% of the soil. The majority of soil facies encountered define a plasticity index lower than 15. As for the consistency index, we obtained values greater than 1, both for clayey soils and for gravelly soils. The classification according to NRC defined for these soils the types Ae1 and Ae2 for the clayey facies and the types GL1 and GL2 for the gravelly soils, while that of the HRB identified the classes and subclasses A-6 and A-7-6 for clayey soils, and subclass A-2-6 for gravelly soils. The optimal water content values obtained range between 10.2% and 23.10%;the maximum dry densities are between 1.66 and 2.07 t/m3 and the CBR index is between 6 and 26. As for the lateritic gravels materials of the Songololo region, the percentage of fine elements generally remains between 12% and 31%;the plasticity index is between 8 and 18;the optimal dry density is around 2 t/m3;the optimal water content is between 9.8% and 14.5% and the CBR index is between 27 and 82. The Songololo-Lufu lateritic gravels are characteristic of laterites in the savannah region, with a high gravel fraction at the expense of the fine fraction, but low parameters such as the liquid limit and plasticity index.

Rb-Sr chronological characteristics of Jurassic granitoid gravels in north margin of Dabie block,Central China

Granitoid gravels are discovered from alluvial fan conglomerates, the base of Jurassic Fenghuangtai Formation (J22), in the north margin of Dabie block and the south part of the Hefei Basin. These granitoid gravels make up 5%-10% of all gravels by volume percent. For the four components, K-feldspar, biotite, amphibole and whole rock divided from two selected granitoid gravel samples, their Rb-Sr isotopes are measured, which gives two formation ages of granitoids: (428±20) Ma and (430±54) Ma, and means that the Early Paleozoic granitoid intrusive rocks once existed in the Dabie Mountain provenances of Jurassic. The granitoids occur in the tectonic setting of post-collision upliftaccording to lithogeochemical discriminant analysis.

Response of grain size of Quaternary gravels to climate and tectonics in the northern Tibetan Plateau

The widely distributed thick gravel deposits along the rim of the Tibetan Plateau have been long thought to be the product of rapid tectonic uplift of the plateau. However, this has been challenged by recent works that suggest these thick gravels may be the result of climate change. In this paper we carried out a detailed field measurement of gravel grain sizes from the Jiuquan and Gobi Gravel Beds in the top of the Laojunmiao section in the Jiuxi Basin in the northern margin of Qilian Mts. (northern Tibetan Plateau). The results suggest that the grain sizes of the Jiuquan and Gobi Gravel Beds over the last 0.8 Ma are characterized by nine coarse-fine cycles having strong 100-ka and 41-ka periodicities that correlate well with the loess-paleosol monsoon record and isotopic global climatic record from deep sea sediments as well as by a long trend of coarsening in gravel grain size. The coarse gravel layers were formed during the warm-humid interglaciations while the fine layers correspond to the cold-dry glaciations. Because the paleoclimate in NW China began to get dramatically drier after the mid-Pleistocene, we think the persistent coarsening of gravel grain size was most probably caused by the rapid uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau, and that the orbital scale cyclic variations in gravel grain size were driven by orbital forcing factors that were superimposed on the tectonically-forced long-term coarsening trend in gravel size. These findings also shed new light on the interaction results of climate and tectonics in relation to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.

Sedimentary Characteristics,Ages,and Environmental Significance of Gravel Deposits and Loess in Shandong,Eastern China:Regional Response to Global Change Since the Last Glacial Period

Investigation of rarely studied gravel layers found in the loess in Shandong Province,eastern China,reveals the fabric characteristics of two gravel layers(G1,G2)and the sedimentary characteristics of loess at the typical and well-preserved Heiyu section(HY),where,to determine the paleoclimatic changes during Marine Isotope Stage 3a.Optically stimulated luminescence dates of the HY formation range from 0.26±0.02 ka to 39.00±2.00 ka.In addition,the ages of G1 and G2 were estimated using the Bayesian model to be 39.60-40.50 and 29.00-29.50 ka.G1 and G2 are mainly composed of fine and medium gravel,both of which were subangular to subrounded limestone,with gravel directions to NE and E.The average flow velocity,average depth,and flood peak flow of G1 are 1.10 m/s,0.49 m,and 37.04 m^(3)/s,respectively,calculated using the flow energy method,whereas those of G2 are 0.98 m/s,0.38 m,and 18.38 m^(3)/s,respectively.Analysis of climate proxy indices show that the sedimentary environment of the gravel and loess in HY might be a regional response to global change.

Experimental and numerical investigation on alternatives to sandy gravel

The NATO agreement STANAG 4569 defines the protection levels for the occupants of logistic and light armored vehicle.The Allied Engineering Publication,AEP-55,Volume 2 document outlines the test conditions for underbelly improvised explosive device(IEDs),which must be buried in water-saturated sandy gravel.The use of sandy gravel has some drawbacks,for instance reproducibility,time consumption,and cost.This paper focuses on the investigation of four alternatives to sandy gravel,which could produce similar specific and cumulative impulses:a concrete pot filled with water,a concrete pot filled with quartz sand,a steel pot without filling and a concrete pot filled with glass spheres(diameter 200μm—300μm)and different water contents.The impulses are measured with a ring technology developed at the Fraunhofer EMI.A numerical soil model based on the work of Marrs,2014 and Fi serov a,2006 and considering the soil moisture was used to simulate the experiments with glass spheres at different water contents,showing much better agreement with the experiments than the classical Laine&Sandvik model,even for high saturation levels.These results can be used to create new test conditions at original scale that are more cost-effective,more reproducible and simpler to manage in comparison to the current tests carried out with STANAG sandy gravel.

Effects of gravel on the water absorption characteristics and hydraulic parameters of stony soil

The eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in China are a typical mountainous region of soil and gravel,where gravel could affect the water movement process in the soil.This study focused on the effects of different gravel contents on the water absorption characteristics and hydraulic parameters of stony soil.The stony soil samples were collected from the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in April 2023 and used as the experimental materials to conduct a one-dimensional horizontal soil column absorption experiment.Six experimental groups with gravel contents of 0%,10%,20%,30%,40%,and 50%were established to determine the saturated hydraulic conductivity(K_(s)),saturated water content(θ_(s)),initial water content(θ_(i)),and retention water content(θ_(r)),and explore the changes in the wetting front depth and cumulative absorption volume during the absorption experiment.The Philip model was used to fit the soil absorption process and determine the soil water absorption rate.Then the length of the characteristic wetting front depth,shape coefficient,empirical parameter,inverse intake suction and soil water suction were derived from the van Genuchten model.Finally,the hydraulic parameters mentioned above were used to fit the soil water characteristic curves,unsaturated hydraulic conductivity(K_(θ))and specific water capacity(C(h)).The results showed that the wetting front depth and cumulative absorption volume of each treatment gradually decreased with increasing gravel content.Compared with control check treatment with gravel content of 0%,soil water absorption rates in the treatments with gravel contents of 10%,20%,30%,40%,and 50%decreased by 11.47%,17.97%,25.24%,29.83%,and 42.45%,respectively.As the gravel content increased,inverse intake suction gradually increased,and shape coefficient,K_(s),θ_(s),andθ_(r)gradually decreased.For the same soil water content,soil water suction and K_(θ)gradually decreased with increasing gravel content.At the same soil water suction,C(h)decreased with increasing gravel content,and the water use efficiency worsened.Overall,the water holding capacity,hydraulic conductivity,and water use efficiency of stony soil in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains decreased with increasing gravel content.This study could provide data support for improving soil water use efficiency in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains and other similar rocky mountainous areas.

Microscopic Analysis of Cementitious Sand and Gravel Damming Materia

The mechanical properties of cementitious sand and gravel damming material have been experimentally determined by means of microscopic SEM(Scanning Electron Microscopy)image analysis.The results show that the combination of fly ash and water can fill the voids in cemented sand and gravel test blocks because of the presence of hydrated calcium silicate and other substances;thereby,the compactness and mechanical properties of these materials can be greatly improved.For every 10 kg/m^(3) increase in the amount of cementitious material,the density increases by about 2%,and the water content decreases by 0.2%.The amount of cementitious material used in the sand and gravel in these tests was 80-110 kg/m^(3),the water-binder ratio was 1-1.50.Moreover,the splitting tensile strength was 1/10 of the compressive strength,and the maximum strength was 7.42 MPa at 90 d.The optimal mix ratio has been found to be 50 kg of cement,60 kg of fly ash and 120 kg of water(C50F60W120).The related dry density was 2.6 g/cm^(3),the water content was 6%,and the water-binder ratio was 1.09.

Recycling of Local Qatar’s Steel Slag and Gravel Deposits in Road Construction

Every year,the State of Qatar generates about 400,000 tons of steel slag and another 500,000 tons of gravel as a result of steel manufacturing and washing sand,respectively.The two materials(by-products)are not fully utilized to their best market values.At the same time,infrastructural renewal will take place in Qatar over the next ten years,and there will be a greater demand for aggregates and other construction materials as the country suffers from the availability of good aggregates.This paper presents results obtained on the use of steel slag,gravel and gabbro(control)in HMAC(hot mix asphalt concrete)paving mixtures and road bases and sub-bases.Tests were conducted in accordance with QCS-2010(Qatar Construction Specifications)and results were compared with QCS requirements for aggregates used in these applications.Based on the data obtained in this work,steel slag and gravel aggregates have a promising potential to be used in HMAC paving mixtures on Qatar’s roads,whether in asphalt base and asphalt wearing courses or as unbound aggregates in the base and sub-base pavement structure.

Collaborative Effect of Fines on Changes in Grain Distribution in the Process of Improving the Geotechnical Properties of an Alluvial Gravel 0/14

The technical and economic optimization of road projects has led to research into the use of materials obtained by mechanical stabilization for pavement construction. This research has enabled us to outline a solution capable of giving the sub-base layer the necessary and sufficient capacity to support the induced loads forecast for the traffic. This work evaluates the effect of adding fine silty clay (Cl) and clayey silt (Csp), two corrective materials to alluvial gravel (0/14), the main material, in the process of improving its cohesion and geotechnical properties. The results obtained show that the optimum mix is obtained with 10% by weight of Cl and 15% Csp. The granulometry of the mixes is spread out, but poorly calibrated. The Ag-Cl mixtures made at 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% 30% and Ag-Csp at 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35%, do not obey the law of mixtures. Mixing with 10% Cl reduces the sand equivalent of alluvial gravel by 60.23%, while mixing with 15% Cl reduces the sand equivalent by 6.82%. The addition of correctors increases the optimum water content and fine sand content of the mixes. Increasing the fine sand content reduces the optimum dry density, CBR index and static modulus. Mixes containing 10% Cl and 15% Csp have CBR values of CBRCl (96%) and CBRCsp (84%) and are not suitable for pavement base layers. In fact, the hardness of the grains has a Los Anges value of 41%, higher than the maximum permitted by the standard of 35%. The mixes obtained can be used as pavement base layers for traffic levels in a cumulative number of heavy goods vehicles 5 × 105 6 for an approximate life of 15 years.

Dynamic properties of polyurethane foam adhesive-reinforced gravels

Polyurethane foam adhesive(PFA)has been introduced as an alternative stabilizer in geotechnical applications because PFA can improve the engineering characteristics of soil by filling the pore space and generating adhesive bonding among the particles.However,the dynamic properties of PFA-reinforced soils are not well understood.To analyze the dynamic characteristics of PFA-reinforced gravels,a series of cyclic triaxial tests were carried out to investigate the shear modulus and damping ratio of PFA-reinforced gravels,and to determine the corresponding effects of the PFA content,confining pressure,consolidation stress ratio and loading frequency.The results showed that the shear modulus increased,and the damping ratio decreased as the PFA content,confining pressure and consolidation stress ratio increased.In contrast,the effect of the loading frequency,which ranged from 0.05 to 1 Hz,was negligible.A modified hyperbolic empirical model can consider the effect of the PFA content on the maximum shear modulus and predict the relationship between the normalized shear modulus and the normalized shear strain was proposed.Moreover,the upper and lower bounds of the damping ratio were also proposed.

Architectural Model of a Dryland Gravel Braided River,based on 3D UAV Oblique Photogrammetric Data:A Case Study of West Dalongkou River in Eastern Xinjiang,China

Three-dimensional unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)oblique photogrammetric data were used to infer mountainous gravel braided river lithofacies,lithofacies associations and architectural elements.Hierarchical architecture and lithofacies associations with detailed lithofacies characterizations were comprehensively described to document the architectural model,architectural element scale and gravel particle scale.(1)Nine lithofacies(i.e.,Gmm,Gcm,Gcc,Gci,Gcl,Ss,Sm,Fsm and Fl)were identified and classified as gravel,sand and fine matrix deposits.These are typical depositional features of a mountainous dryland gravel-braided river.(2)Three architectural elements were identified,including channel(CH),gravel bar(GB)and overbank(OB).CH can be further divided into flow channel and abandoned channel,while GB consists of Central Gravel bar(CGB)and Margin Gravel bar(MGB).(3)The gravel bar is the key architectural element of the gravel braided river,with its geological attributes.The dimensions of GBs and their particles are various,but exhibit good relationships with each other.The grain size of GB decreases downstream,but the dimensions of GB do not.The bank erosion affects the GB dimensions,whereas channel incision and water flow velocity influence the grain size of GB.The conclusions can be applied to the dryland gravel braided river studies in tectonically active areas.

Numerical simulation on the impact characteristics between rockfalls of different shapes and gravel cushions

The shape of rockfalls significantly affects the performance of the impact cushion,which is manifested by the difference in the impact force and the penetration depth of the rockfall during the collision.In this study,we built the collision numerical model between rockfalls and cushions based on the results from previous studies,and simulated the collision process of rockfalls with four different shapes(cylindrical,cuboid,spherical,and cubic)and different cushions.Essential parameters when rockfalls impact cushions are calculated,including the maximum impact forces on the surface and bottom of the cushions and the maximum penetration depth of the rockfall.The results showed that the maximum impact force on the surface and the bottom of the cushions varies with the rockfall shapes.The maximum impact force on the cushion surface caused by cylindrical rockfall is the smallest,followed by the cuboid rockfall,the cube rockfall,and the spherical rockfall.The maximum impact force at the cushion bottom also follows this trend.However,the penetration depth of cuboid rockfall is the smallest,followed by the cylindrical rockfall,the cubic rockfall,and the spherical rockfall.The results of this study provide more extensive theoretical support for rockfall disaster prevention using gravel cushions.

Influence law of modified glutinous rice-based materials on gravel soil reinforcement and water erosion process

A large number of loose piles formed by mountain hazards are highly susceptible to hydraulic erosion under rainfall conditions.The use of ecological substrate materials for erosion control and ecological restoration of gravel soil slopes has become a current research hotspot and the study difficulty.The post-earthquake slump accumulation gravel soil in Jiuzhaigou was selected as the research object,and the self-developed modified glutinous rice-based material was used to reinforce the gravel soil.The variable slope flume erosion test and rainfall simulation test were carried out to study the water erosion resistance of the material reconstructed soil under the influence of runoff erosion and raindrop splash erosion.The results show that:As the material content reached 12.5%,the reconstructed soil did not disintegrate after 24 hours of immersion,the internal friction angle was increased by 42.26%,and the cohesion was increased by 235.5%,which played a significant reinforcement effect.In the process of slope erosion,the soil rill erodibility parameter Kr was only 3‰ of the gravel soil control group,the critical shear force τ increased by 272%,and the soil erosion resistance was significantly improved.In the process of rainfall and rainfall on the slope,the runoff intensity of the reconstructed soil was stable,and the ability to resist runoff erosion and raindrop splash erosion was enhanced.The maximum value of soil loss rate on different slope slopes is 0.02-0.10 g·m^(-2)s^(-1),which is significantly lower than that of the control group and has better erosion reduction effect.

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Particle Migration and Patterning Behavior in a Gravel Pack

Due to its long lifespan and high sand-removal efficiency,gravel packing is one of the most applied sand control methods during the recovery of reservoirs with sanding problems.The blockage and retention of injected sand in a gravel pack is a complex process affected by multiple mechanisms.The majority of existing studies based on the phenomenological deep bed filtration(DBF)theory focused on the gravel pack’s overall permeability damage and failed to obtain the inner-pore particle distribution pattern.In this work,experiments and simulations were carried out to reveal the particle distribution in a gravel pack during flooding.In particular,through real-time monitoring of particle migration,the penetration depth and distribution pattern of invaded particles with different gravel-sand particle ratios,fluid viscosities and injection rates could be determined.By simplifying each unit bed element(UBE)into a pore-throat structure with four tunnels(two horizontals for discharge and two verticals for sedimentation),a new network simulation method,which combines deep bed filtration with a particle trajectory model,was implemented.Cross comparison of experimental and numerical results demonstrates the validity and accuracy of the model.

JOINT EFFORTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE URGENTLY NEEDED

The effects of climate change have in recen t years become more evident around the globe.According to the State of the Global Climate 2022 published by the World Meteorological organization this April,climate change continued its advance last year,and the global population was gravely impacted by hazardous climate and weather-related events.In this context,participants of the sub-forum themed"Extreme Weather Events and Climate change"exchanged opinions on the topic during the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2023.

A study on impacts of groundwater seepage on artificial freezing process of gravel strata

Purpose–This paper aims to study the impacts of groundwater seepage on artificial freezing process of gravel strata,the temperature field characteristics of the strata,and the strata process,closure time and thickness evolution mechanism of the frozen wall.Design/methodology/approach–In this paper several laboratory model tests were conducted,considering different groundwater seepage rate.Findings–The results show that there is a significant coupling effect between the cold diffusion of artificial freezing pipes and groundwater seepage;when there is no seepage,temperature fields upstream and downstream of the gravel strata are symmetrically distributed,and the thickness of the frozen soil column/frozen wall is consistent during artificial freezing;groundwater seepage causes significant asymmetry in the temperature fields upstream and downstream of the gravel strata,and the greater the seepage rate,the more obvious the asymmetry;the frozen wall closure time increases linearly with the increase in the groundwater seepage rate,and specifically,the time length under seepage rate of 5.00 m d
1 is 3.2 times longer than that under no seepage;due to the erosion from groundwater seepage,the thickness of the upstream frozen wall decreases linearly with the seepage velocity,while that of the downstream frozen wall increases linearly,resulting in a saddle-shaped frozen wall.Originality/value–The research results are beneficial to the optimum design and risk control of artificial freezing process in gravel strata.