• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2011

Experimental tests have been performed to measure the thermal conductivity of unsaturated soils, and computational models have been widely used to predict thermal conductivity. However, measured values of the thermal conductivity of unsaturated soils cannot be compared with predicted values because of the gradient in moisture content within unsaturated soils. In this study, experimental consolidation tests on saturated unfrozen kaolinite were performed to investigate the effect of dry density and moisture content on thermal conductivity. The results were used to evaluate the validity of a model employed to calculate thermal conductivity.