Artificial Ground Freezing (AGF) is a ground improvement technique employed to support open-cut or underground excavations. This method involves circulating a refrigerant through strategically positioned freezing pipes. As the water naturally present in the soil freezes, it transforms into ice, strengthening and impermeabilising the ground.

The design and implementation of AGF require a thorough understanding of the thermophysical properties of the soil and specialised equipment to monitor and manage the freezing process. This includes tracking temperature evolution during the maintenance phase, analysing the mechanical behaviour of frozen soils, and supporting the management of the treatment during construction. By integrating this in-depth knowledge into the design and operation of AGF systems, engineers can optimise the efficiency and safety of ground freezing applications, ensuring successful outcomes across diverse geotechnical projects. Understanding the thermal and mechanical properties of soils and geomaterials is essential for accurate AGF design, enabling precise control of the freezing process, assessment of the required cooling capacity, and determination of freezing duration.

GroutFreezLab provides comprehensive laboratory analysis services to evaluate the mechanical and thermal properties of soils and geomaterials in various states:

• Unfrozen

• Frozen

• Thawed (post-freezing)