# Study of the Effect of Cutting Frozen Soils on the Supports of Above-Ground Trunk Pipelines
## 1 Introduction
The significance of this study stems from the fact that soil frost heave can result in the displacement of pipeline support structures, thereby posing risks to the linear sections of the pipeline. Hence, there is a pressing need for improvements in the operational reliability of trunk pipelines built on permafrost soils [19; 20; 21; 22]. Addition  
Figure 1: Frost heave of aboveground pipeline supports. ally, during frost heaving, the current support design does not allow for the lowering of the lower part of the support, which can be problematic. If necessary, the only option is to raise the support, putting additional load on it, which is not feasible due to the constraints imposed by the pipeline's operational load. Thus, there is a challenge to increasing the operational reliability of trunk pipelines situated on permafrost soils [23; 24; 25; 26]. Considering the issues discussed, the aim of this study is to improve the technological efficiency and safe operation of above-ground trunk pipelines by advancing the support design. This includes ensuring reliable fixation of the pipeline in the face of frost-heaving forces and preserving the integrity of the pipeline's design position [27; 28; 29; 30; 31]. To reach the stated objective, the initial step involves analyzing the benefits and drawbacks of current support designs for above-ground trunk pipelines, including the stability of the pipeline during operation in complex weather conditions. Based on this examination, a support design must be proposed that satisfies the requirements of industrial safety and technological efficiency by implementing reliable pipeline fixation under the influence of frost-heaving forces and preserving the design position of the pipeline. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed technology must be validated using experimental data and finite-element modeling simulations of the pipeline's operation process during soil frost heaving. The study determined various fracture stresses and physical characteristics of frost heave soils and proposed a support structure to safeguard above-ground trunk pipelines against frost heave forces. A comprehensive patent search was carried out to examine existing supports for above-ground trunk pipelines. The results of numerical and experimental research presented in the article exhibit a strong correlation between test results, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed support design for above-ground trunk pipelines. The test bench unit and the numerical model developed for its calculation effectively simulate the cryogenic process of frost heaving and provide accurate output data. The proposed support design for above-ground protection of trunk pipelines provides improved stability and eliminates the requirement for additional inspections and geomonitoring during operation in areas with continuous permafrost. The innovative aspect of this work lies in the presentation of the numerical and experimental study results that demonstrate the relationship between soil fracture stresses and the type and temperature of the rock interacting with the support slab of the proposed design. The study obtained different fracture stress values and physical characteristics of frost heave soil and proposed a support structure to effectively guard above-ground trunk pipelines against frost heave forces.