Author(s)

Carles M. Rubio, Ramon Josa, Francesc Ferrer

.

The aim of this research is to explore the influence of hysteresis on heat transport in soils under experimental laboratory conditions. The obtained results shown that, thermal properties as are volumetric specific heat capacity (C_v) and thermal conductivity (θ) showed a positive linear correlation with soil volumetric water content (θ). However, thermal diffusivity values (θ) shown divergences between heat transferred and soil moisture. A spatial-temporal hysteresis pattern was observed on the whole of the thermal properties. This fact was related with factors as: degree of saturation, the influence of temperature difference on the heat transport, and the geometry of the water layer around the particle.

Water Content, Volume Fraction of Air, Hysteresis, Dual Needle Sensor, Heat Pulse

C. Rubio, R. Josa and F. Ferrer, "Influence of the Hysteretic Behaviour on Silt Loam Soil Thermal Properties," Open Journal of Soil Science, Vol. 1 No. 3, 2011, pp. 77-85. doi: 10.4236/ojss.2011.13011.