Evaluating the thermal properties of soils based on measured ground temperatures

• Main Author: Pavon, Gabriel
• Other Authors: Alfaro, Marolo (Civil Engineering), Arenson, Lukas (Civil Engineering) Hollaender, Hartmut (Civil Engineering) Chen, Ying (Biosystems Engineering)
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Temperature; Properties; Soils; permafrost
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/32938

Almost one quarter of the earth’s surface is underlain by permafrost where more than 5% is located in mountain areas. Investigations have determined deterioration and warming of the permafrost zones as the zero isotherm moves towards the north affecting the life cycle performance of civil infrastructure. Proper understanding of the thermal interaction between the permafrost and civil infrastructure is critical in engineering design. The thermal properties of soils are fundamental parameters to determine the rate of freezing and thawing of the ground. The changes in the thickness of the active layer are dependent on these thermal properties. These changes can contribute to thaw settlement and frost heave of the ground. The thesis evaluates the thermal properties of permafrost in five selected sites. Measured data were simulated through numerical models using TEMP/W computer program. Measured and simulated data were compared using statistical analysis. Sensitivity analysis was employed to investigate the importance of the thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity in the geothermal models. The thesis shows the similarities or differences of the thermal properties between the lowland and the mountain permafrost. May 2018