Transient heat conduction from a vertical rod buried in a semi-infinite medium with variable heating strength

In this paper, a variable heating strength model (VHS model) is developed to predict transient heat conduction from a vertical rod buried in a semi-infinite medium. Unlike past studies, the current VHS model permits a VHS along the rod. Both axial heat conduction through the rod and lateral heat conduction to the surrounding ground are modeled. A derived distribution of axial heating strength is then applied to a finite line heat source model to predict transient temperature changes in the surrounding medium. The predicted results show how the rod’s radius and ground’s thermal conductivity affect the vertical variation of heating strength and temperature response. Additional simulations predict the long-term temperature increase in the ground, due to a power transmission tower installed in a region of initially frozen ground.