An interfacial contact model for two-dimensional thermal consolidation of multilayered saturated soils subjected to ramp-type heating

Abstract

When the interface of a multilayered saturated soil is rough with noticeable gaps, heat flow lines converge towards the actual contact points, causing thermal flow contraction. Conversely, in the interface between two layers of soil with different properties, pore water flows slowly along the pore channels, demonstrating laminar flow phenomenon. To predict the thermal contact resistance and flow contact resistance at the interface, this paper constructs general imperfect thermal contact model and general imperfect flow contact model, respectively. Utilizing a thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling model, the thermal consolidation behavior of multilayered saturated soil under two-dimensional conditions is investigated. Fourier and Laplace transformations are applied to decouple the governing equations, yielding expressions for the temperature increment, pore water pressure, and displacement in multilayered saturated soil. The inverse Fourier-Laplace transformation is then used to obtain numerical solutions, which are compared with degeneration solutions to validate the computational accuracy. The differences in the thermal consolidation process under various thermal contact and flow contact resistance models are discussed. Furthermore, the impact of parameters such as the thermal resistance coefficient, partition thermal contact coefficient, flow contact resistance coefficient, and partition flow contact coefficient on thermal consolidation are investigated. Results indicate that thermal contact resistance creates a relative thermal gradient at the interface, leading to increased pore water pressure and reduced displacement nearby. In contrast, flow contact resistance generates a relative pore pressure gradient at the interface, resulting in increased displacement within the saturated soil with minimal effect on temperature increment distribution.

Keywords

multilayered saturated soils / thermal consolidation / thermal contact resistance / flow contact resistance / ramp-type heating

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