Coupled Heat-Deformation-Flow Analysis for Clayey Soil

Thermal stress imposed on soil is coupled with the expulsion of pore fluid resulting in thermomechanical fluid flow. This paper describes a coupled flow-deformation model subjected to a constant temperature. Two-dimensional numerical modeling was performed based on the finite element method applied to thermoporoelasticity. The model evolves from application of the principles of irreversible thermodynamics. A heating experiment was designed to measure temperature and thermal deformation at predefined locations in a cylindrical clay disk. Results from the experiment are compared with the simulated results to validate the numerical scheme. Sensitivity analysis of the developed code reaffirmed that the coupling effects are most pronounced for high porosity and low permeability medium.