Assistant Professor. Mahya Roustaie

Understanding the complex interactions between soil particles, ice, and unfrozen water is essential for predicting the thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of frozen soils. X-ray computed tomography (CT) provides a powerful tool to investigate these interactions across spatial and temporal scales.

This presentation highlights my steps moving from 3D characterization of frozen soil microstructures to 4D visualization of phase transitions and microstructural evolution during warming and thawing. With particular emphasis on differentiating ice from water and tracking the evolution of pore-scale features. Finally, ongoing developments in CT-compatible miniature thermo-hydro-mechanical testing systems will be introduced, offering new opportunities to link microstructural evolution with the mechanical response of frozen soils.