Abstract: “A thermal analysis method based on inverse heat transfer is presented to estimate moisture content. The inverse method is based on experimental and numerical studies. A sand multilayer at different moisture contents is thermally excited. Thermocouple probes are placed at different positions in the thickness, and at the extremities of the multilayer, and record temperature variations during a test. A numerical heat transfer model associated with a parametric estimation algorithm allows layers’ moisture contents identification. Results are obtained thanks to previous tests that provide empirical relationships between the thermophysical properties and the moisture content”

Keywords: Moisture content; Inverse heat transfer; Thermal characterization; Thermophysical properties