This publication presents criteria and procedures for the design and construction of pavements placed on subgrade or base course materials subject to seasonal frost action. The most prevalent modes of distress in pavements and their causes are listed. The detrimental effects of frost action in subsurface materials are manifested by nonuniform heave of pavements during the winter and by loss of strength of affected soils during the ensuing thaw period. This is accompanied by a corresponding increase in damage accumulation and a more rapid rate of pavement deterioration during the period of weakening; other related detrimental effects of frost and low temperatures are possible loss of compaction, development of permanent roughness, restriction of drainage by the frozen strata, and cracking and deterioration of the pavement surface. Hazardous operating conditions, excessive maintenance, or pavement destruction may result. Course Outline 1. GENERAL 2. DEFINITIONS 3. FROST-SUSCEPTIBILITY CLASSIFICATION 4. ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF THICKNESS DESIGN 5. SELECTION OF DESIGN METHOD 6. LIMITED SUBGRADE FROST PENETRATION 7. REDUCED SUBGRADE STRENGTH 8. USE OF STATE HIGHWAY REQUIREMENTS 9. FREE-DRAINING MATERIAL DIRECTLY BENEATH BOUND BASE OR SURFACING LAYER 10. OTHER GRANULAR UNBOUND BASE COURSE 11. USE OF FL AND F2 SOILS FOR BASE MATERIALS 12. FILTER OR DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS 13. STABILIZERS AND STABILIZED LAYERS 14. STABILIZATION WITH LIME AND WITH LCF 15. STABILIZATION WITH PORTLAND CEMENT 16. STABILIZATION WITH BITUMEN 17. SUBGRADE REQUIREMENTS 18. OTHER MEASURES TO REDUCE HEAVE 19. PAVEMENT CRACKING ASSOCIATED WITH FROST HEAVE 20. CONTROL OF SUBGRADE AND BASE COURSE CONSTRUCTION 21. BASE COURSE CONSTRUCTION 22. COMPACTION 23. USE OF INSULATION MATERIALS IN PAVEMENTS This course will give you professional tools that will help you to understand the special technical and design considerations to use in pavement design in cold regions where frost conditions are a factor.

Learning Objectives

• Learn frost, soil and pavement terminology applicable to design for seasonal frost conditions;
• Learn about bound bases and how they are employed in frost conditions;
• Learn the definitions of frost-susceptible soils;
• Learn how the design freezing index is determined and applied in design for seasonal frost;
• Learn how to design to accommodate varved clays;
• Learn the alternative methods of thickness design;
• Learn how to determine and apply the air freezing index;
• Learn about the reduced subgrade strength design method.