Constant stress creep and unconfined compressive strength testing data for ice-rich silty permafrost in Northern Alaska (2023)

This dataset consists of constant stress creep and unconfined compressive strength test data for ice-rich permafrost retrieved from the tundra near Utqiaġvik, used to examine the mechanical behavior of relatively undisturbed permafrost under different temperature conditions. The results are discussed in the following paper:
Wang, Z., Xiao, M., Bray, M., Nicolsky, D., & Ji, X. (2026). Creep Deformation and Long-Term Strength of Ice-Rich Permafrost in Northern Alaska. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 152(1), 04025161.
Laboratory testing dates: 2023-02-21 - 2023-06-05
The degradation of permafrost alters deformation and long-term strength, posing challenges to existing and future civil infrastructure in Northern Alaska. Long-term strength is a critical parameter in the design of civil projects; yet, to our best knowledge, data on the creep deformation and long-term strength of undisturbed permafrost in Northern Alaska remain limited. This study provides laboratory testing data on the creep and compressive strength of ice-rich permafrost in northern Alaska. In this study, field samples of relatively undisturbed permafrost from the upper 1.5 meters (m) of the Arctic Coastal Plain near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, were retrieved and analyzed. We conducted constant stress creep tests, unconfined compression strength tests, and unfrozen water content tests to assess the mechanical and physical properties of the retrieved permafrost cores.