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Name: Gregory
Status: Student
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
I am wondering what the thermal conductivity (in W/m-K)is for clay (or for different types of clay)?


Replies:
Gregory,

The thermal conductivity of soils is mostly controlled by water content, although, obviously, the type of soil is also important. For an average clay, the thermal conductivity in W/(m K) is 0.25 for no soil moisture, about 1.0 for 10% soil moisture (% by volume), 1.25 at 14% (a bend in the thermal conductivity curve occurs here), 1.67 at 30%, and about 2.0 at 50%. That will give you a rough idea.

David R. Cook
Atmospheric Section
Environmental Research Division
Argonne National Laboratory


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