Numerical Solution for Predicting Soil or Rock Temperature with Different Thermal Diffusivity

Authors

  • Malabika Adak, A. Mandal

Abstract

In many engineering applications, the long-term soil /rock temperature distribution as a function
of time at different depths are important in order to determine the system design and modeling. In this study,
temperature fluctuations are predicted in a subsurface of soil due to daily or seasonal temperature variations
for monthly as well as yearly. Mathematical model is based on transient heat flow with assumptions of onedimensional
heat flow, homogeneous soil, semi -infinite medium and constant thermal diffusivity, specific
heat. Very popular and oldest numerical method finite difference scheme (FTCS) is applied to solve the
transient heat equation with the boundary conditions on the top and bottom surface. In the top surface
temperature varies seasonally where in bottom surface no heat reaches from top surface. Results are
obtained using MATLAB code. Convergence plot, transient temperature plot with different depth, contour
surface plot is determined for various thermal diffusivity of soil annually.

Published

2020-02-28

Issue

Section

Articles