MEASURING THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY OF SOIL

ABSTRACT A transient method was used to measure thermal diffusivity of a Millhopper fine sand. Tests were conducted for three bulk densities and seven volumetric water contents. Deviation of individual measurements was within 5% of the mean. Sensitivity analysis was used to analyze the effect of experimental errors on measured thermal diffusivity. The effect of diffusion of water vapor on the measured thermal diffusivity was found to be insignificant using the described procedure.