title: A conjugate thermo-electric model for a composite medium.
abstract: Electrical transmission signals have been used for decades to characterize the internal structure of composite materials. We theoretically analyze the transmission of an electrical signal through a composite material which consists of two phases with different chemical compositions. We assume that the temperature of the biphasic system increases as a result of Joule heating and its electrical resistivity varies linearly with temperature; this last consideration leads to simultaneously study the electrical and thermal effects. We propose a nonlinear conjugate thermo-electric model, which is solved numerically to obtain the current density and temperature profiles for each phase. We study the effect of frequency, resistivities and thermal conductivities on the current density and temperature. We validate the prediction of the model with comparisons with experimental data obtained from rock characterization tests.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chávez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Francisco A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Godínez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.affiliation: Tecnología Aplicada en Exploración y Producción Petrolera, Inc., Polanco, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zenit
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016062:Porosity; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013814:Thermal Conductivity
chemical_list: D012987:Soil