Freezing-thawing cycle in seasonal frozen soil region frequently damages the slope protected by soil nailing structure and threatens the slope retaining structure. In this paper

a finite element model was established using the thermal-fluid-structural coupling module in the nonlinear finite element software ADINA as case study of a project in Lanzhou. A constitutive model was developed to solve freeze-heave and thaw-subside. The program was verified by measured results. The structural characteristic response of soil nailing structure under freezing-thawing cycles was analyzed by the software secondary development. The results show that the increment of axial force of soil nail in each layer reaches a maximum at the nail head and decreases gradually along the axial direction under freezing-thawing cycles. The relative increment of axial force increases with the slope height. The horizontal displacement and ground settlement increase due to melted frozen soil. These conclusions provide significant references for design and construction of slope retaining structures in seasonal frozen soil region.