Rapid Stabilization of Thawing Soils
for Enhanced Vehicle Mobility
A Field Demonstration Project
MAUREEN A. KESTLER, SALLY A. SHOOP, KAREN S. HENRY,
JEFFREY A. STARK, AND ROSA T. AFFLECK
vehicles, the stabilization techniques are suitable
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
for many civilian applications, such as for con-
Thawing soils can create very difficult condi-
struction, mining, petroleum exploration, and for-
tions for vehicle movement both on trails and off-
estry, where the ability to travel on thawing ground
road. Frozen substrate prevents drainage, trap-
is desirable.
ping liquid water in the surface layer of thawing
Rapid stabilization techniques were tested in
ground. Additional moisture added by thawing
three configurations: sloped sections with a 16 to
frost lenses, snowmelt, and rain can make the
18% grade, a pentagonal loop trail to test corn-
thawed layer saturated or supersaturated and
ering, and the largest experiment, a thawing
unable to support vehicles and equipment. If
wooded trail. The stabilization techniques used
vehicle passage is possible, the resulting soil distur-
the following materials both alone and in combi-
bance may cause severe environmental damage
nation: chunkwood, tire chips, wood mats, tire
by rutting, tearing of plant roots, and subsequent
mats, fascines, tree slash, geosynthetics, and gravel.
erosion problems. Vehicle mobility can be enhanced
There was minimal trail preparation prior to plac-
and environmental damage prevented by appro-
ing the materials. Details such as labor and equip-
priate stabilization of thawing ground. Rapid
ment needs, time, and amount of material for con-
stabilization techniques for thawing soils are criti-
struction of each surface were carefully observed
cal for successful maneuver of ground forces and
and noted. Prior to construction, the terrain and
sustainment operations. An initial review of rapid
soil were characterized. After the test sections were
mechanical stabilization techniques is given in
completed, the trail was trafficked with wheeled
Kestler et al. (1994). The objective of this project
and tracked vehicles. During trafficking, both the
was to evaluate the construction and performance
vehicle performance and test surface performance
of the stabilization methods for military use (main-
were monitored for surface damage through rut-
taining lines of communications, transport and
ting and lateral expansion, material interference
support functions, and combat trails) on thawing
with vehicles, ride quality, vehicle traction and
ground.
handling problems.
This report describes the stabilization techniques
This field evaluation was a collaborative effort
and their field evaluation. A resulting evalua-
among several government organizations and pri-
tion matrix was developed based on the reported
vate industry. The USDA Forest Service (USFS),
results to aid in decision making. Although the
interested in environmentally friendly forest
field evaluation was performed with military
operations, assisted in the production of chunk-
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