Many countries are interested in polar and cold regions because of exhausted resources in their domestic regions. However physical and mechanical property of frozen soil have much difference with normal temperature soil. In this research, basic strength tests of the frozen soil are performed to evaluate the basic material property and strength characteristics.
This research performed the strength tests with various of the sample size, water contents and clay contents by using weathered granite soil and standard sand (Jumunjin sand) which are mixed with kaolinite. Test samples were firstly made with the standard proctor test in the normal temperature then freeze in cold room under -15°C for a week. Three kinds of strength test are performed in the cold room. Those are UCT (Unconfined Compression Test), STT (Split Tensile Test) and UPT (Unconfined Penetration Test).
In weathered granite soil sample case, strength increased as sample size decreased and water content reached fully saturated state. These results show in common with rock mechanics's strength behavior. However, strength increased as clay content and water content reached fully saturated state in mixed sand and clay sample cases. Water content and clay content have bigger effects than sample size in frozen soil.