Study of Thermal Properties of a Basaltic Clay

A clear understanding of heat transfer through soil is important in the design of a thermal-active ground structure such as a geothermal energy pile. Thermal conductivity is an important material parameter for the design of such ground structures. In the work described in this paper, the thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of a basaltic clay was investigated through laboratory studies using a thermal needle probe. The experimental results were analysed to examine the effects of dry density and moisture content on the thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of the soil. Finally it was found that the thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity increased with higher moisture contents and dry densities.