Sensitivity study of thermal response test using resistively heated methods under various setups.

• The sensitivity of thermal response tests using resistively heated methods under various setups is demonstrated. • The effect of test setups on estimation results is examined using numerically generated data. • A distance-based generalized sensitivity analysis method is employed. • The in-situ design strategy of the novel tests is illustrated combining sensitivity analysis and field tests. Thermal response tests employing resistively heated methods (TRT-RH) have shown advanced performance in evaluating ground properties, while the effect of various TRT-RH setups is still vague in practice. This study examines the effect of different TRT-RH setups based on numerically generated data and field data. As a result, the various setups alter the heat transfer and change the test time required to meet the ideal linear heat source (ILHS) assumption. Time thresholds that indicate TRT-RH are positively related to eccentric distance, negatively related to borehole radius, and positively related to grout thermal conductivity difference. The distance-based general sensitivity analysis result shows that the radius of the borehole or trench, which separates the heat source and the ground, has intensive sensitivity to the test effectivity. This study presents the standard setup strategy for TRT-RH to measure the thermal and hydraulic properties based on the ILHS assumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]