Thermal Conductivity Model Analysis of Unsaturated Ice-Containing Soil

Abstract

In cold locales, the thermal conductivity of soil porous media varies according to their composition and the phase state of the substance contained within the pore space. During the winter, water and other media in the soil pore space freeze-thaw, resulting in their phase state, composition, distribution, and significant thermal conductivity changes. There are some shortcomings in the current research regarding the thermal conductivity change pattern of unsaturated ice-containing soils. In this paper, the representative elementary volume (REV) selection method is given for unsaturated ice-containing soil with porosity as a representative state variable. Under the condition of freeze-thaw, two thermal conductivity REV analysis models for unsaturated ice-containing soil are established: a simplified volume-weighted average REV model and a fine volume-weighted average REV model; accordingly, a macroscopic thermal conductivity analysis model is given. The computational analysis is carried out with an actual unsaturated ice-containing soil example. The influence of the application of frozen soil in China is examined for its effect on the variation law of the thermal conductivity of porous medium. The variation characteristics of thermal conductivity of permafrost soil with related parameters (porosity, water ratio, moisture percentage, ice content, and tortuosity) are discussed. The model built in this paper provides novel concepts and methods for analyzing the thermal conductivity characteristics of unsaturated soil, as well as enhancing and advancing the analysis.