Apparatus for Strengthening Soft Water-Saturated Soils by Freezing under Engineering Objects and Structures in Cold Regions.

The paper is devoted to the construction of various earth and engineering structures being operated on soft soils in the northern regions of Russia with a pronounced continental climate and a lot of wetlands. The problem of year-round cooling of water-saturated soil to freezing temperatures in order to convert it into a frozen state of permafrost is considered. To convert the soil into a frozen state of permafrost and keep the state all year around, including the summer period, the new soil cooling apparatus has been developed. The apparatus is economical; it has no moving parts and can operate for a long time without involving any staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]