One-Dimensional Consolidation Modeling of Soil Surrounding Buried Geothermal Pipelines: Incorporating Heat Diffusion Processes

Abstract

Thermal consolidation of soil is a significant concern in buried geothermal pipeline engineering. Soil consolidation begins immediately upon pipeline completion, while a stable temperature field does not instantly form after soil backfilling. Therefore, considering the heat diffusion process post-pipeline installation is crucial for accurately predicting consolidation completion time. This study proposes a novel mathematical model integrating the heat diffusion process and continuous drainage boundary conditions. Based on the newly proposed model, the early-stage consolidation during the heat diffusion process can be accurately accounted so that the accelerated consolidation caused by the thermal effect would not be overestimated. In order to facilitate the application of the proposed model, a semi-analytical solution is derived by utilizing the integral transform method, variable separation method, and the inverse Fourier transform, the correctness of which has been validated through comparisons with the existing simplified studies. Additionally, a parametric study investigating the potential influencing parameters on thermal consolidation is conducted.