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Sustained performance and structural optimization of a solar radiation shielding technique for cooling permafrost foundations under climate warming

Author

Listed:
  • Liu, Minghao
  • Li, Bingyan
  • Mu, Yanhu
  • Niu, Fujun
  • Luo, Jing
  • Yin, Fei
  • Kong, Xiangbing

Abstract

Solar radiation shielding (SRS) is a mitigation technique designed to directly reduce surface temperature and specifically engineered to protect permafrost beneath roadway embankments. However, its inherent structural instability substantially hinders its implementation and assessment of long-term cooling efficacy. Decades-long monitoring data of air and ground temperatures from 2006 to 2021 were collected at an SRS embankment section along the Qinghai-Xizang Railway to examine its long-term cooling performance for permafrost foundations. Field results indicate that the SRS structure effectively mitigates solar radiation impacts, thereby reducing near-surface air temperatures throughout the year. It provides sustained cooling for underlying permafrost foundations to depths exceeding 15.0 m, with rapid cooling observed during the initial 7–8 years post-installation. The SRS structure also elevated permafrost table and induced permafrost aggradation. To improve operational reliability, the SRS structure was optimized into a concrete shading board (CSB), and simulation-driven analysis proved that integrating the new CSB with crushed-rock sloped embankments synergistically enhances overall cooling capacity by leveraging winter convective cooling and fully utilizing shading effect. This study validates the long-term effectiveness of the SRS technique for climate-resilient infrastructures and highlights its potential for integrating passive cooling technologies into renewable energy systems for transportation in permafrost regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Minghao & Li, Bingyan & Mu, Yanhu & Niu, Fujun & Luo, Jing & Yin, Fei & Kong, Xiangbing, 2026. "Sustained performance and structural optimization of a solar radiation shielding technique for cooling permafrost foundations under climate warming," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:258:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125026175
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124953
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