Abstract:To insure the safe performance of rockfill dam faces in cold seasons, frost tests were carried out at a consistent empirical freezing speed of 20mm/day to study the frost susceptibility of the bedding materials. The influence of gradation, fine particle content, water content, and surcharge of the bedding material on frost heaving were obtained. When fine particle content was below 12%, there was no or only weak frost heaving. Frost increased linearly as fine particle content rose. When the fine particle content was fixed, the linear relationship between the water content and the frost heaving changed with the gradations. Typical water content of 7.5%, fine particle content of 12%, and concrete face density of 59g/cm3 are suggested for the bedding material to avoid frost damage.