This paper describes the estimation of thermal and hydraulic properties of soils having log-normal grain size distributions. A computer package combines and modifies various existing models (De Vries, Campbell, Shirazi and L. Boersma, et. al.) and thus allows quick estimation of thermal conductivity, specific heat, and hydraulic properties over a full range of moisture contents (dryness to saturation), and over a temperature range of -30 to 95 oC. Using the default mode, a user simply selects soil from 12 available USDA textural classes. In self-entered mode, the user supplies detailed information concerning bulk density, porosity, mineralogical composition, and mass fractions of sand, clay and silt. When describing a self-entered mineral, the user must also provide its thermal properties, and grain size characteristics.

The package is also capable of estimating field conditions, i.e. expected soil moisture range, thermal conductivities, and specific heats. Graphs and data may be viewed from within the program, or exported to many word processors or graphing packages.

Vlodek R. Tarnawski
923 Robie Street
Division of Engineering
Saint Mary's University
Halifax, N.S., CANADA B3H 3C3
Phone: (902) 420-56-99
Fax: (902) 420-55-61
E-mail: res2001@husky1.stmarys.ca

Bernhard Wagner
Bayerisches Geologisches Landesamt
Hebstrabe 128
8000 Munchen 4
Federal Republic of Germany

Jonathan Webber
Department of Chemical Engineering
Technical University of Nova Scotia
Halifax, N.S., CANADA B3J 2X4