Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Frost Heave shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Frost Heave offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Frost Heave at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Frost Heave? Wrong! If the Frost Heave is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Frost Heave then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Frost Heave? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Frost Heave and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Frost Heave wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Frost Heave then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Frost Heave site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Frost Heave, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Frost Heave, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

below Mugi Hill on Mount Kenya is caused by frost heaving.Frost heaving (or frost heave) occurs when soil expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. This process can damage plant roots through breaking or desiccation, cause cracks in pavement (roads), and damage the foundation (architecture)s of buildings, even below the frost line. Moist, fine-grained soil at certain temperatures is most susceptible to frost heaving.

Cause Originally, frost heaving was thought to occur due simply to the freezing of water in soil. However, the vertical displacement of soil in frost heaving can be significantly greater than the expansion that occurs when ice freezes. In the 1960s, frost heaving was demonstrated in soil saturated in benzene and nitrobenzene, which contract when they freeze.

The current understanding is that certain soil particles have a high affinity for liquid water. As the liquid water around them freezes, these soils draw in liquid water from the unfrozen soils around them. If the air temperature is below freezing but relatively stable, the heat of fusion from the water that freezes can cause the temperature gradient in the soil to remain constant. The soil at the point where freezing is occurring continues to draw in liquid water from the soils below it, which then freezes and builds up into an "ice lens". Depending on the soil's affinity for moisture and amount of moisture available, a significant amount of soil displacement can result.

The earliest known documentation of frost heaving came in the 1600s.

Susceptible soil types Three conditions are generally necessary for frost heaving to occur:

• freezing temperatures
• a supply of water
• a soil that has:
• the ability to conduct water
• a high affinity for water
• saturation (i.e. the pore spaces are filled with water)

The affinity of a soil for water is generally related to the surface area of the particles that it is composed of. Clays have a high ratio of surface area to volume and have a high affinity for water. Larger particles like sand have a lower ratio of surface area to volume and therefore a low affinity for water.

Conversely, the hydraulic conductivity of a soil is related to the pore size. Soils composed of very small particles like clay have small pores and therefore low hydraulic conductivity. Soils composed of larger particles like sand have larger pores and a higher hydraulic conductivity.

The offsetting nature of these two requirements mean that clayey and sandy soils are less conducive to frost heaving than silt, which has a moderate pore size and moisture affinity.

Frost creep: Soil locomotion due to frost heave Frost creep, an effect of frost heave, involves a freeze-thaw action allowing mass movement down slope. The soil or sediment is frozen and in the process moved upward perpendicular to the slope. When thaw occurs the sediment moves downwards thus mass movement, or locomotion, occurs.

Structures created by frost heaving In Arctic regions, frost heaving for hundreds of years can create structures, known as pingos, as high as 60 metres. Frost heaving is also responsible for creating stones in unique shapes such as circles, polygons and stripes. A notable example is the remarkably circular stones of the islands of Spitsbergen.

References See also

• Frost creep
• Frost law

External links

• American Concrete Pavement Association Frost Action and Frost Heave
• Canadian Building Digest article
• National Research Council of Canada Simple manhole innovation cuts frost heave in pavement
• American Institute of Physics pictures of frost heaving
• Stone Circles Explained, about stone structures created by frost heaving

below Mugi Hill on Mount Kenya is caused by frost heaving.Frost heaving (or frost heave) occurs when soil expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. This process can damage plant roots through breaking or desiccation, cause cracks in pavement (roads), and damage the foundation (architecture)s of buildings, even below the frost line. Moist, fine-grained soil at certain temperatures is most susceptible to frost heaving.

Cause Originally, frost heaving was thought to occur due simply to the freezing of water in soil. However, the vertical displacement of soil in frost heaving can be significantly greater than the expansion that occurs when ice freezes. In the 1960s, frost heaving was demonstrated in soil saturated in benzene and nitrobenzene, which contract when they freeze.

The current understanding is that certain soil particles have a high affinity for liquid water. As the liquid water around them freezes, these soils draw in liquid water from the unfrozen soils around them. If the air temperature is below freezing but relatively stable, the heat of fusion from the water that freezes can cause the temperature gradient in the soil to remain constant. The soil at the point where freezing is occurring continues to draw in liquid water from the soils below it, which then freezes and builds up into an "ice lens". Depending on the soil's affinity for moisture and amount of moisture available, a significant amount of soil displacement can result.

The earliest known documentation of frost heaving came in the 1600s.

Susceptible soil types Three conditions are generally necessary for frost heaving to occur:

• freezing temperatures
• a supply of water
• a soil that has:
• the ability to conduct water
• a high affinity for water
• saturation (i.e. the pore spaces are filled with water)

The affinity of a soil for water is generally related to the surface area of the particles that it is composed of. Clays have a high ratio of surface area to volume and have a high affinity for water. Larger particles like sand have a lower ratio of surface area to volume and therefore a low affinity for water.

Conversely, the hydraulic conductivity of a soil is related to the pore size. Soils composed of very small particles like clay have small pores and therefore low hydraulic conductivity. Soils composed of larger particles like sand have larger pores and a higher hydraulic conductivity.

The offsetting nature of these two requirements mean that clayey and sandy soils are less conducive to frost heaving than silt, which has a moderate pore size and moisture affinity.

Frost creep: Soil locomotion due to frost heave Frost creep, an effect of frost heave, involves a freeze-thaw action allowing mass movement down slope. The soil or sediment is frozen and in the process moved upward perpendicular to the slope. When thaw occurs the sediment moves downwards thus mass movement, or locomotion, occurs.

Structures created by frost heaving In Arctic regions, frost heaving for hundreds of years can create structures, known as pingos, as high as 60 metres. Frost heaving is also responsible for creating stones in unique shapes such as circles, polygons and stripes. A notable example is the remarkably circular stones of the islands of Spitsbergen.

References See also

• Frost creep
• Frost law

External links

• American Concrete Pavement Association Frost Action and Frost Heave
• Canadian Building Digest article
• National Research Council of Canada Simple manhole innovation cuts frost heave in pavement
• American Institute of Physics pictures of frost heaving
• Stone Circles Explained, about stone structures created by frost heaving