An imperfect thermal contact problem for consolidation of bilayered saturated soil subjected to ramp-type heating

Abstract

This study proposes a generalized imperfect thermal contact model to simulate the thermal contact resistance existing at the interface between the two adjacent soil layers. Based on the generalized imperfect thermal contact model, a thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupled consolidation model for bilayered saturated soil under ramp-type heating load is established. By means of the Laplace transform, the semi-analytical solutions of temperature increment, excess pore water pressure and displacement of the bilayered saturated soil are obtained. Based on the present solutions, the THM coupled consolidation behaviors are investigated through comparative and parametric analysis. The results show that the generalized imperfect thermal contact model can realistically describe the imperfect thermal contact problem and can be degenerated into other commonly-used thermal contact models. Due to the existence of interfacial thermal contact resistance, only a portion of heat flux passes through the interface, weakening the influence of the thermal load on the consolidation behaviors of non-heated layer. With the decrease of contact transfer coefficient and the increase of partition coefficient, the interfacial thermal contact resistance increases, and the influence of the thermal conductivity of soil grains reduces.