Seasonal freezing and thawing significantly influence the migration and distribution of soil hydrothermal salts. Understanding the dynamics of hydrothermal salt forces in canal foundation soils is crucial for effective canal disease control and optimization. However, the impact on rectangular canals remains poorly understood. Therefore, field-scale studies on water-heat-salt-force-displacement monitoring were conducted for the canal. The study analyzed the changes and interaction mechanisms of water-heat-salt-force in the soil beneath the canal, along with the damage mechanisms and preventive measures. The results indicate that the most rapid changes in temperature, moisture, and salt occur in the subsoil on the canal side, with the greatest depth of freezing. Heat transfer efficiency provides an intuitive explanation for the sensitivity of ground temperature at the junction of the canal wall and subsoil to air temperature fluctuations, as well as the minimal moisture migration in this region under the subcooling effect. The temperature-moisture curve suggests that current waterheat-force and water-heat-salt-force models exhibit a delay in accurately predicting water migration within the subsoil. Rectangular canals are more susceptible to damage under peak freezing conditions, requiring a combined approach of freezing restraint and frost-heaving force to mitigate damage. These findings offer valuable insights for canal design, maintenance, and further research.

Peloid is a natural product developed during the maturation process between a clay material and water and is used in health and wellness centres due to its mineralogical, physiochemical and biological properties. However, the potential therapeutic value of clays in Portugal has not been fully investigated. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to identify the effects of two mineralized waters: thermo-mineral water (sulphurous and hydroxylated water abundant in chloride ions, sodium and calcium) and seawater, on three residual soils from Alentejo, from a morphological, mineralogical and chemical perspective. The peloids morphology is more homogeneous than the residual soils, and the particle size decreases during the maturation process. Thermo-mineral water enriched the peloids in smectite (58-76 %), while seawater newly formed Na-minerals (decreasing smectite contents to 39-54 %). Smectite is essentially montmorillonite, although there is nontronite and beidelite. The residual soils and peloids have a silicilastic composition (32.23-52.85 %), between 14.22 and 20.53 % of Al2O3, and besides smectite, the mineralogical composition is composed of salts (only in seawater peloids), feldspars, iron oxides, carbonates, and quartz. Morphology and mineralogy enhance the influence of waters in peloids properties and suggest that this samples have potential therapeutic value. Furthermore, physicalchemical, rheological, thermal and biological analysis are needed to support these findings.

Lunar soil, as an in-situ resource, holds significant potential for constructing bases and habitats on the Moon. However, such constructions face challenges including limited mechanical strength and extreme temperature fluctuations ranging from -170 degrees C to +133 degrees C between lunar day and night. In this study, we developed a 3D-printed geopolymer derived from lunar regolith simulant with an optimized zig-zag structure, exhibiting exceptional mechanical performance and thermal stability. The designed structure achieved remarkable damage tolerance, with a compressive strength exceeding 12.6 MPa at similar to 80 vol% porosity and a fracture strain of 3.8 %. Finite element method (FEM) simulations revealed that the triangular frame and wavy interlayers enhanced both stiffness and toughness. Additionally, by incorporating strategically placed holes and extending the thermal diffusion path, we significantly improved the thermal insulation of the structure, achieving an ultralow thermal conductivity of 0.24 W/(m K). Furthermore, an iron-free geopolymer coating reduced overheating under sunlight by 51.5 degrees C, underscoring the material's potential for space applications.

Freeze-thaw cycles in seasonally frozen soil affect the boundary conditions of aqueducts with pile foundations, consequently impacting their seismic performance. To explore the damage characteristics and seismic behaviour of aqueduct bent frames in such regions, a custom testing apparatus with an integrated cooling system was developed. Two 1/15 scale models of reinforced concrete aqueduct bent frames with pile foundations were constructed and subjected to pseudo-static testing under both unfrozen and frozen soil conditions. The findings revealed that ground soil freezing has minimal impact on the ultimate bearing capacity and energy dissipation of the bent frame-pile-soil system, but significantly enhances its initial stiffness. Additionally, the frozen soil layer exerts a stronger embedding effect on the pile cap, ensuring the stability of the pile foundation during earthquakes. However, under large seismic loads, aqueduct bent frames experience greater damage and residual deformation in frozen soil compared to unfrozen soil conditions. Therefore, the presence of a seasonally frozen soil layer somewhat compromises the seismic performance of aqueduct bent frames. Subsequently, a finite element model considering pile-soil interaction (PSI) and frozen soil hydro-thermal effects was developed for aqueduct bent frames and validated against experimental results. This provides an effective method for predicting their seismic behaviors in seasonally frozen soil regions. Furthermore, based on the seismic damage characteristics of aqueduct bent frame with pile foundations observed in pseudo-static tests, a novel selfadaptive aqueduct bent frame system was designed to mitigate the adverse effects of seasonally frozen soil layer on seismic performance. This system is rooted in the principle of balancing resistance with adaptability, rather than solely depending on resistance. The seismic performance of this innovative system was then discussed, providing valuable insights for future seismic design of reinforced concrete aqueduct bent frames with pile foundations in seasonally frozen soil regions.

A novel framework for nonlinear thermal elastic-viscoplastic (TEVP) constitutive relationships was proposed in this study, incorporating three distinct thermoplasticity mechanisms. These four TEVP formulations, combined with an existing TEVP constitutive equation presented in the companion paper, were integrated into a coupled consolidation and heat transfer (CHT) numerical model. The CHT model accounts for large strain, soil selfweight, creep strains, thermal-induced strains, the relative velocity of fluid and solid phases, varying hydraulic conductivity and compressibility during consolidation process, time-dependent loading, and heat transfer, including thermal conduction, thermo-mechanical dispersion, and advection. The performance of CHT model, incorporating different TEVP constitutive equations, was evaluated through comparing the simulation results with measurements from laboratory oedometer tests. Simulation results, including settlement, excess pore pressure and temperature profiles, showed good agreement with the experimental data. All four TEVP constitutive relationships produced identical results for the consolidation behavior of soil that in the oedometer tests. The TEVP constitutive equations may not have a significant effect on the heat transfer in soil layers because of the identical performance on simulating soil compression. The CHT model, incorporating the four TEVP constitutive equations, was then used to investigate the long-term consolidation and heat transfer behavior of a four layer soil stratum under seasonally cyclic thermal loading in a field test, with excellent agreement observed between simulated results and measured data.

The incorporation of PCMs in energy piles holds significant potential for revolutionising thermal management in construction, making them a crucial component in the development of next-generation systems. The existing literature on PCM-integrated energy piles largely consists of isolated case studies and experimental investigations, often focusing on specific aspects without providing a comprehensive synthesis to guide future research or practical applications. To date, no review has been conducted to consolidate and evaluate the existing knowledge on PCMs in energy piles, making this review the first of its kind in this field. Up until now, this gap in research has limited our understanding of how PCM configurations, thermal properties, and integration methods impact the thermal and mechanical performance of these systems. Through thoroughly analysing the current research landscape, this review discovers key trends, methodologies, and insights. The methodology used here involved a systematic search of the existing SCI/SCIE-indexed literature to ensure a structured review. Based on the SLR findings, it is evident that current research on PCMs in energy piles is focused on improving thermal efficiency, heat transfer, and compressive strength. Furthermore, precise adjustments in melting temperature significantly impact efficiency, with PCM integration boosting thermal energy extraction by up to 70 % in some cases, such as heating cycles, and saving up to 30 % in operational costs. PCMs also reduce soil temperature fluctuations, improving structural integrity through minimising axial load forces. However, challenges remain, including reduced mechanical strength due to voids and weak bonding, high costs, and complexities such as micro-encapsulation. We acknowledge that there are gaps in addressing certain key factors, including thermal diffusivity; volume change during phase transitions; thermal response time; compatibility with construction materials; interaction with soil, creep, and fatigue; material compatibility and durability; and the long-term energy savings associated with PCM-GEP systems.

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are an alternative for clean energy solutions in Canada's remote northern communities, owing to their safety, flexibility, and reduced capital requirements. Currently, these communities are heavily reliant on fossil fuels, and the transition to cleaner energy sources, such as SMRs, becomes imperative for Canada to achieve its ambitious net-zero emissions target by 2050. However, applying SMR technology in permafrost regions affected by climate change presents unique challenges. The degradation of permafrost can lead to significant deformations and settlements, which can result in increased maintenance expenses and reduced structural resilience of SMR infrastructure. In this paper, we studied the combined effect of climate nonstationarity in terms of ground surface temperature and heat dissipation from SMR reactor cores for the first time in two distinct locations in Canada's North: Salluit in Quebec and Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. It was shown that these combined effects can make significant changes to the ground thermal conditions within a radius of 15-20 m around the reactor core. The change in the ground thermal conditions poses a threat to the integrity of the permafrost table. The implementation of mitigation strategies is imperative to maintain the structural integrity of the nuclear infrastructure in permafrost regions. The thermal modeling presented in this study paves the way for the development of advanced coupled thermo-hydromechanical models to examine the impact of SMRs and climate nonstationarity on permafrost degradation.

In this paper, through extensive on-site research of the plain concrete composite foundation for the Jiuma Expressway, the study conducted proportional scaling tests. This study focused on the temperature, moisture, pile-soil stress, and deformation of this foundation under freeze-thaw conditions. The findings indicate that the temperature of the plain concrete pile composite foundation fluctuates sinusoidally with atmospheric temperature changes. As the depth increases, both temperature and lag time increase, while the fluctuation range decreases. Furthermore, the effect of atmospheric temperature on the shoulder and slope foot is more significant than on the interior of the road. During the freeze-thaw cycle, the water content and pore-water pressure in the foundation fluctuate periodically. The pile-soil stress fluctuates periodically with the freeze-thaw cycle, with the shoulder position exhibiting the most significant changes. Finally, the road displays pronounced freeze-thaw deformations at the side ditch and slope toe. This study provides a valuable basis for the construction of highway projects in cold regions.

Thermochemical processing of biowaste generates renewable carbon-rich materials with potential agronomic uses, contributing to waste valorization. This study evaluates the application of hydrochar obtained from hydrothermal carbonization of food waste, those obtained by different post-treatments (washing, aging, and thermal treatment), as well as biochar obtained by pyrolysis as soil amendments. For this purpose, the effect of char addition (1-10 wt% d.b.) on a marginal agricultural soil on germination and growth of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) plants was assessed. All the hydrochars exhibited a chemical composition suitable for agronomic use, characterized by high nutrient content, abundant organic matter, and low concentration of phytotoxic metals. In contrast, biochar exceeded the permissible limits for Cr, Cu, and Ni concentrations rendering it unsuitable for application to agronomic crops. The high temperature of thermal post-treatment and pyrolysis favored mineral and heavy metal concentration while washing significantly reduced nutrient content (N, S, P, K, Mg) along with the electrical conductivity. The addition of biochar or both washed and thermally post-treated hydrochar negatively affected tomato growth. Reduced chlorophyll content was associated with the decreased expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in antioxidant metabolism. This led to photosynthetic membrane damage, as evidenced by chlorophyll fluorescence-related parameters. Conversely, the addition of aged (<= 5 wt %) and fresh (1-10 wt%) hydrochars increased both germination and plant growth compared to unamended soil, indicating that hydrochar from food waste does not require additional post-treatments to be used as a soil amendment.

This study investigates the effects of incorporating date palm wood powder (DPWP) on the thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of lightweight fired earth bricks made from clay and dune sand. DPWP was added in varying proportions (0 %, 5 %, 8 %, 10 %, 12 %, and 15 % by weight of the soil matrix) to evaluate its influence on brick performance, particularly in terms of thermal insulation. Experimental results revealed that adding DPWP significantly reduced the thermal conductivity of the bricks, achieving a maximum reduction of 56.41 %. However, the inclusion of DPWP negatively impacted the physical and mechanical properties of the samples. Among the tested bricks, those with 8 % and 10 % DPWP achieved a desirable balance, maintaining satisfactory mechanical strength within acceptable standards while achieving thermal conductivity values of 0.333 and 0.279 W/m & sdot;K, representing reductions of 37.29 % and 47.46 %, respectively. To further validate these findings, prototypes of the DPWP-enhanced fired bricks and commercial bricks were constructed and tested under real environmental conditions during both summer and winter seasons, over a continuous 12-h daily period. The DPWP-enhanced prototypes demonstrated superior thermal performance, with temperature differences reaching up to 3 degrees C compared to the commercial bricks. These findings highlight the potential of DPWP as a sustainable additive for improving the thermal insulation properties of fired earth bricks, thereby promoting eco-friendly and energy-efficient building materials for sustainable construction practices.