Thermal behavior of soils: studies and applications in current energetic and climatic contexts.

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Abstract  

The study of the thermal behavior of soil dates back several decades, often associated with its viscous behavior. With the diversification of soil use, such as in the exploration of geothermal systems and other applications, this study has gained renewed interest. Moreover, in the current climatic context, both the different amplitudes of thermal cycles and the expressive, sometimes sudden, variations in water table levels, especially at geological shallower levels, are likely to impact the performance of structures and infrastructures.  Both the assessment of the sustainability of soil use as a resource and its structural study must be based on adequate knowledge of its behavior from a multiphysical perspective, where thermal, mechanical, and hydraulic processes interact. A phenomenological description of the thermal behavior of soils is presented in an integrated view, based on proper mathematical and laboratory characterization, aiming at planning and their sustainable use with reference to ongoing studies on the geological formations of the city of Lisbon.

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Short Curriculum

Ana Vieira is a Senior Researcher in the Geotechnics Department of LNEC (since 2023).  She has a PhD in Civil Engineering (Geotechnics and Foundations Branch) from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra (2007). She participates and coordinates research projects at LNEC and externally funded projects and contract research studies and specialized technical consulting. She is President of the Portuguese Committee of Environmental Geotechnics (since 2020), Co-editor of the Soils and Rocks journal (since 2021), Secretary-General of the Portuguese Society of Geotechnics (2016-2020) and Guest Lecturer at the Departments of Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Nova University of Lisbon (2010-2014). She was awarded with Manuel Rocha Prize of the Portuguese Geotechnical Society for PhD thesis for the quadrennium 2004-2007 (2008).