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Design of a Device for Measuring the Thermal Diffusivity of Granular Materials Using the Method of Numerical Solution of the Heat Equation
Laboratory of Energy and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
Laboratory of Energy and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
Laboratory of Energy and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
Laboratory of Energy and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
- 1 Laboratory of Energy and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
- 2 Laboratory of Energy and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
- 3 Laboratory of Energy and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
- 4 Laboratory of Energy and Applied Mechanics (LEMA), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin
Open Journal of Civil Engineering·Volume 15 (2025)·Pages 442–452·Published 5 August 2025·DOI10.4236/ojce.2025.153024
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Abstract
In West Africa, controlling the thermal behavior of pavements is a major challenge. This study presents the design and calibration of an economical device for measuring the thermal diffusivity of granular materials. The method is based on the numerical resolution of the one-dimensional heat equation using temperature data acquired by three sensors. The device enables temperature to be measured as a function of time for a minimum duration of 3600 seconds per test. Calibration, carried out on dry gully sand, yielded an average thermal diffusivity value of 3.35 × 10 − 7 m 2 /s, with a relative error of 5.4% compared with the documented reference value of 3.17 × 10 − 7 m 2 /s.
KeywordsPavement Base CourseThermal DiffusivityGranular MaterialTemperatureRelative Error
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