Discrete Element Method Study on Effect of Shear-Induced Anisotropy on Thermal Conductivity of Granular Soils
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 13, Issue 1
Abstract
In this study, a simple idealization of heat transfer by conduction at the interparticle contacts is utilized for the evaluation of thermal conductivity of granular soils when subjected to external loading conditions. Discrete element method simulations employing this idealization were performed to examine the impact of loading the soil in a consolidated drained triaxial test environment on soil thermal conductivity. Results of conducted simulations show that shear-induced anisotropy results in an anisotropic thermal conductivity tensor. The results also indicate that contact density affects the average thermal conductivity of granular materials. The larger the average number of contacts per particle, or the coordination number, the larger the thermal conductivity. During shearing, the coordination number tends to decrease, resulting in a reduction in soil thermal conductivity with dense soils, showing a larger decrease in thermal conductivity upon shearing.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 13 • Issue 1 • February 2013
Pages: 57 - 64
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 28, 2010
Accepted: Aug 2, 2011
Published online: Aug 4, 2011
Published in print: Feb 1, 2013
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