Soils are continuously subjected to thermal loads – and thus to temperature variations – as a consequence of natural or anthropogenic perturbations that involve the transfer of heat. For example, several engineering applications exist in which soils undergo temperature variations over time scales that can vary and last from seconds to centuries. As temperature variations can critically influence the properties and behavior of soils, and consequently the performance of many engineering applications, the understanding of the response of such materials to thermal loads has warranted important scientific investigations over the past fifty years. Nevertheless, various fundamental questions remain unresolved regarding the response of soils subjected to thermal loads, particularly the thermally induced deformation of such materials. In this context, this paper presents a critical overview of compelling phenomena, challenges and opportunities which accompany the thermally induced deformation of soils. Through an analysis of distinguishing and contradicting phenomena characterizing the deformation of both fine-grained soils (e.g., clays and silts) and coarse-grained soils (e.g., sands) subjected to thermal loads, this study discusses various unresolved challenges and highlights scientific breakthroughs and engineering opportunities that can result from the expansion of current knowledge in this scope.

由于涉及热传递的自然或人为扰动，土壤会不断承受热负荷，从而不断受到温度变化的影响。例如，存在几种工程应用，其中土壤在随时间变化的温度范围内经历温度变化，时间变化范围从几秒到几个世纪不等。由于温度变化会严重影响土壤的特性和行为，进而影响许多工程应用的性能，因此，在过去的五十年中，对这种材料对热负荷响应的理解的认识值得进行重要的科学研究。然而，关于土壤在热负荷下的响应，特别是在这种材料的热诱导变形方面，仍未解决各种基本问题。在这种情况下，本文对土壤热诱导变形伴随的引人注目的现象，挑战和机遇进行了综述。通过对表征承受热负荷的细粒土壤（例如粘土和淤泥）和粗粒土壤（例如沙子）的变形的区别和矛盾现象进行分析，本研究讨论了各种未解决的挑战并强调了科学突破和扩大现有知识范围可能带来的工程机会。