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2025 Vol.41, Issue 4 Preview Page
Numerical Analysis Study on the Reduction of Frost Penetration Behind Retaining Walls Using PCM-infused Mortar Panels

PCM 혼입 모르타르 패널 적용에 따른 옹벽 배면 동결영역 저감 효과에 대한 수치해석 연구

Hyeon-Jae Woo1
,
Gyu-Hyun Go2*
,
Jae-Min Lee3
,
Seong-Kyum Kim4
우 현재1
,
고 규현2*
,
이 재민3
,
김 성겸4
1Ph.D Student, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering Kumoh National Institute of Tech.
2Member, Associate Prof., School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Tech.
3Postdoctoral Researcher, Kumoh National Institute of Technology Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
4Assistant Prof., School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Tech.
1비회원, 국립금오공과대학교 건축토목환경공학부 석박통합과정
2정회원, 국립금오공과대학교 건축토목환경공학부 부교수
3비회원, 국립금오공과대학교 국립금오공과대학교산학협력단 박사후연구원
4비회원, 국립금오공과대학교 건축토목환경공학부 조교수
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2025. pp. 31-39
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Abstract

Recently, abnormal weather events have become more frequent worldwide, and the incidence of extreme cold waves during winter has been increasing in Korea. The freeze–thaw cycles of soil caused by such cold waves can cause serious damage to ground structures. In particular, when it occurs in the backfill soil behind a retaining wall, these cycles may significantly compromise wall stability due to changes in soil pressure and bearing capacity. Therefore, this study proposes a method of applying panels made of phase change material (PCM) mixed with cement mortar to retaining walls as a measure to prevent damage to structures caused by freezing and thawing. The effectiveness of this approach in reducing the frozen area is quantitatively evaluated through laboratory experiments and numerical analyses. The results confirmed that the thermal buffering performance of the PCM panel effectively reduced the frozen area in the backfill soil, demonstrating its effectiveness. This method is expected to be applied as a measure to prevent freezing–thawing damage to structures in cold regions.

Keywords
Frost penetration
Numerical analysis
PCM-infused mortar panels
Retaining wall

최근 세계적으로 이상 기후가 빈번하게 발생하고 있고, 특히 국내에서는 겨울철 극한 한파의 빈도가 증가하고 있는 추세이다. 극한 한파에 의해 발생하는 지반의 동결-융해는 지반 구조물에 심각한 손상을 야기한다. 특히 옹벽 배면에서 동결-융해가 발생할 경우 토압 및 지지력의 변화로 인해 옹벽의 안정성이 크게 저하될 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 동결-융해에 의한 옹벽 구조물의 손상을 사전에 방지하기 위한 대책으로 상변화 물질(PCM)과 시멘트 모르타르를 혼합한 패널을 옹벽에 적용하는 방법을 제안하고, 효과적으로 동결 영역을 저감할 수 있는 가능성을 실험 및 수치해석을 통해 정량적으로 평가하였다. 먼저 PCM 시멘트 모르타르 공시체를 제작하여 동결 챔버를 이용한 동결 실험을 수행하였고, 계측된 온도 데이터를 분석하여 PCM의 열적 완충 성능을 평가하였다. 또한 계측된 온도 데이터를 기반으로 PCM의 상변화 특성 및 열적 완충 성능을 모사할 수 있는 수치해석 모델을 구축하여, 모델의 정확성과 예측 신뢰도를 검증하였다. 이후 검증된 모델을 활용하여 PCM 패널 적용 여부에 따라 옹벽 배면 지반 내 온도 분포와 동결 영역 등의 변화를 비교 평가하였다. 수치해석 결과, PCM의 열적 완충 성능에 의해 배면 지반 내부에서 동결 영역이 효과적으로 감소한 것을 확인하였다. 이는 PCM 패널의 열적 완충 성능의 실효성을 나타내며, 향후 한랭 지역의 지반 구조물의 동결-융해 손상 방지 대책으로써 적용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 41
  • No :4
  • Pages :31-39
  • Received Date : 2025-06-09
  • Revised Date : 2025-07-28
  • Accepted Date : 2025-07-31
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2025.41.4.31
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