The asymmetric temperature field is one of the main factors inducing the cracking of the inner shaft lining during freezing-shaft sinking. The evolution equation for the thermophysical and mechanical properties of shaft lining concrete during construction period is the basis for revealing the cracking mechanism. In this study, several experiments were conducted to reveal the evolution of the temperature field, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus of shaft lining concrete with age and lining thickness within the first 7 d after pouring. Results show that the shaft lining concrete temperature curve after pouring can be divided into five stages: induction, slow heating, rapid heating, rapid cooling, and slow cooling. Thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity reached the maximum on Day 1 and gradually decreased with an increase in age. The compressive strength, tensile strength and elastic modulus significantly increased with age. With an increase in thickness, the shaft lining concrete at the same age improved its three mechanical parameters. Finally, the evolution equation for these thermophysical and mechanical parameters with age within the first 7 d after pouring was fitted based on experimental data. This study is expected to provide a thermophysical and mechanical basis for studying the cracking mechanism of the inner shaft lining.

A similarity experiment study is conducted to investigate the evolution characteristics of temperature field and frozen wall closure judgment criteria for the inclined shaft, under inclined holes freezing condition using an adjustable-angle freeze sinking analogous instrument. The changes of temperature and frozen wall thickness with the freezing time in the inclined shaft section, are recorded in real time, and the water pressure of axial and radial hydrological holes are measured. The results demonstrate that the soil temperature change can be divided into three stages under the conditions of salt-water temperature of -32°C and flow rate of 3.18 m/s: rapid cooling before reaching the freezing point, slow cooling in the process of freezing latent heat release, and accelerated cooling and stabilization after freezing latent heat release. The distance from the freezing pipe is the main factor affecting the freezing wall temperature. Affected by the arched arrangement of frozen pipes, the freezing speed in the position of arch crown and arch baseline is slower than the position of wall corner and base plate. A new judgment criterion of frozen wall closure based on the water pressure of the axial hydrological pipe is recommended. In all, this paper has an enlightenment significance for understanding the evolution of the soil temperature field, and predicting the frozen wall closure time in applications of the inclined holes freezing method for the inclined shaft.