Heat and mass flow associated with a freezing front

Abstract A one-dimensional mathematical model for heat and moisture flow in saturated porous materials is given. The model is formulated using capillary theory and depends upon the inter-relationship between pore radius, freezing point depression and the cryogenic suction. The conditions at the frost line include a criterion which determines whether heave and/or penetration of the frost line occurs. Numerical results are given which were computed using an expanding—contracting finite-difference approximation. These results compare well with temperature and heave measurements made in the laboratory using a precise freezing cell.