In recent years, construction has increased at previously uninhabited high altitudes with the development of winter tourism and population growth. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the soil behaviour at low temperatures and high altitudes. This study investigated the physical properties and mechanical behaviours of soil samples collected from four mountainous regions, including settlement areas. In addition, new frost- heaving pressure and strength prediction charts have been developed. Based on sieve analysis, the soil samples from the Ka & ccedil;kar, Paland & ouml;ken, Erciyes, and Ilgaz Mountain areas were classified as silty gravel or sand. With increasing elevation, the percentage of coarse particles in soil samples increased, whereas the proportion of fine particles decreased. A new device was developed to investigate the mechanical behaviour of soil samples at low temperatures (0 degrees C and below). The highest frost strength (7274.5 kPa) and heaving pressure (43.97 kPa) were measured in soils with high fine-grain content. A statistical evaluation of the test results was performed, and it was determined that the most influential variables for estimating frost heaving and strength were the fine-grain ratio, soil temperature, and water content. ANN analyses were performed using these variables, and ternary strength and frost-heaving pressure estimation diagrams were developed.

This article investigates the hygrothermal properties of earth-based materials by analyzing experimental data from 88 articles spanning 32 countries worldwide. The focus is determining effective techniques for leveraging the use of excavated soil in construction, particularly emphasizing enhancement of hygrothermal comfort in specific climates. Based on statistical analysis, the study presents a comprehensive classification of earth production techniques, incorporating additives, and examines their impacts on hygrothermal properties of excavated soils. Additionally, it explores the intricate relationship between the climatic conditions of a region and the chosen earth-material production techniques. The analysis aims to propose standard parameters for earthen materials and identify gaps in both methods and experimental studies. Therefore, this study will provide valuable insights by proposing new design tools (ternary diagrams) to maximize the use of excavated soils in construction practices. The proposed diagrams illustrate the intricate relation linking either hygrothermal properties, the climate zone, and manufacturing techniques, or the relation between the most studied manufacturing techniques (compaction, fibered, and stabilization) and expected dry thermal conductivity. Thereby, results from this meta-analysis and critical review will contribute to advancing sustainable construction practices.