Comparative Analysis of Methods for Obtaining Thermal Conductivity of Frozen and Unfrozen Soils

ABSTRACT: Thermal conductivity is one of the most challenging soil properties to determine due to its sensitivity to temperature and freeze-thaw cycles in permafrost environments, where modeling inaccuracies can lead to misinterpretation of ground temperature profiles and active layer thickness. While heat capacity can often be calculated from constituent properties, thermal conductivity requires empirical measurement or model-based estimation. Our goal is to determine the reliability and practicality of each method for thermal modeling, potentially identifying a universally applicable method or assessing whether differences between techniques are negligible. Through this comparative analysis, we identify the most straightforward and effective methods for engineers to determine soil thermal properties accurately, facilitating practical decision-making in permafrost thermal modeling.