Thermal conductivity of the rocks in the Bureau of Mines Standard Rock Suite

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5608708· OSTI ID:5608708

Morgan, M. T.; West, G. A.

Thermal conductivities of eight rocks from the Bureau of Mines Standard Rock Suite were measured in air over the temperature range 373 to 533/sup 0/K (100 to 260/sup 0/C). The thermal conductivities of these rocks were measured to furnish standards for future comparisons with host rock from prospective nuclear waste repository sites. The thermal conductivity at a given temperature decreased by as much as 9% after a specimen had been heated to the maximum temperature (533/sup 0/K), but additional heating cycles had no further effect. This decrease was smallest in the igneous rocks and largest in the sedimentary types. Variations due to orientation were within the precision of measurements (+- 5%). In most cases the thermal conductivities were linear with the reciprocal of the temperature and were within 14% of published data obtained by other methods. Measurements were made by a cut-bar comparison method in which the sample was sandwiched between two reference or metering bars made of Pyroceram 9606 glass-ceramic. The apparatus consisted of a Dynatech Model TCFCM-N20 comparative thermal conductivity analyzer controlled by a Hewlett Packard Model 3052A data acquisition system. A program was written to increment and cycle the temperature in steps between predetermined initial and maximum values. At each step the thermal conductivity was measured after steady-state conditions were established. The rocks furnished by the Bureau of Mines were quarried in large and fairly homogeneous lots for use by researchers at various laboratories. To investigate any anisotropy, cores were taken from each rock cube perpendicular to each of the cube faces. Samples 2 in. in diameter and approx. 0.75 in. thick were prepared from the cores and were dried in a vacuum oven for at least one month prior to taking measurements.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5608708
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-7052
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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BASALT
CARBONATE ROCKS
DATA
DATA FORMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRANITES
GRANODIORITES
GRAPHS
HEAT TRANSFER
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IGNEOUS ROCKS
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MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
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NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUMERICAL DATA
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
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RESERVOIR ROCK
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SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STANDARDS
TABLES
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
US BUREAU OF MINES
US ORGANIZATIONS