Abstract: The lining canals in cold regions are vulnerable to frost injury, and its failure mode is related to the structure and interaction between the linings and the ground soils. In order to simulate that interaction, the method of "cold expansion and heat contraction" is used to reflect the normal freezing stress. Based on this, the setting method for simulating the parameters is given. The numerical results show that a sliding deformation and failure criterion between the lining slabs and the frozen soils can be reflected by setting the viscous behaviors of contact surface. Based on the above studies, the frost-heave characteristics of monolithic and fabricated lining canals are discussed.