A Prediction of Ground Temperature Distribution using n-factor and Convective Coefficient

Frozen ground modeling is commonly used as a means of predicting the ground temperature of the permafrost region. Modelling ground temperature distribution has been studied, but boundary condition between the air and the ground's surface has not been clearly established, because it is not a simple task to directly calculate heat energy at the boundary. Simplified condition of heat flux is often used on the surface including various surface conditions, such as atmospheric temperature, condition of vegetation, constituents of the soil, etc. In this study, two methods of determining the surface boundary condition (i.e., n-factor and convection coefficient) to simulate heat flow of the ground were used. These boundary conditions were applied to a conventional temperature analysis program (TEMP/W), and then the results were compared with laboratory tests. In the series of comparison results, the case in which boundary condition was determined by the convection coefficient shows better agreement than that determined by n-factor.