Measurement and Prediction of the Thermal Conductivity of Fused Quartz in the Range of 5–45 ℃

A database of the thermal conductivity of fused quartz was developed using the KD2 Pro thermal properties analyzer. The database contains the thermal conductivity data of fused quartz with changes in soil porosity and temperatures ranging from 5 ℃ to 45 ℃. The measured data show that the thermal conductivity increases with increasing temperature under dry conditions. Five empirical models and three theoretical models are used to calculate the thermal conductivity of fused quartz and natural sands. The experimental thermal conductivity data of dry fused quartz were exceptionally well predicted by models from the literature if the effects of temperature change were not considered. An empirical model was modified considering temperature and porosity. The empirical model successfully captures the variations in the thermal conductivity of the fused quartz and natural sands.