College of Engineering, University of Diyala discussed a master dissertation on an experimental study on the subsidence of weak clay soils under the influence of thermal loads by the postgraduate student, Mr. Dhirar Ma’alak Hannoun.

The dissertation aimed at improving the soft clay soil via improving the slump coefficients and the maximum stress in it, clarifying the heat transfer coefficients in the soil and the amount of thermal conductivity for this soil and using the electro-thermal method to treat the soft clay soil under load.

The dissertation demonstrated a study of the tests into two stages, the first is the heat treatment stage and the second is the mechanical load on the soil.

The dissertation reviewed good improvement results, as the best heat transfer was obtained when the source temperature was 500 degrees Celsius, with a heating time of 12 hours, while the distance between the heaters was (20 cm), and an improvement value of 99.8% was obtained in the drop when the source temperature was 500 °C with a heating time of 12 hours.