Electrical testing methods have inherent limitations. The two-electrode method is prone to noise from contact resistance due to polarization, while the four-electrode method reduces polarization but may disturb the soil structure during probe penetration, affecting measurement accuracy. Variations in penetration depth also alter current field attenuation, thereby influencing resistivity results. To address these issues, an indoor four-electrode penetration testing system was developed, using sandy and clayey soils as test materials. Calibration tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of saline concentration and voltage, and the influences of water content, dry density, and soil type on resistivity during penetration were analyzed. The results show that saline concentration and boundary conditions have negligible effects on electric field propagation. Voltage variation induces thermal and polarization effects that determine the calibration voltage. With increasing penetration depth, current attenuation weakens, and the resistivity of both soil types rises and stabilizes, following an exponential relationship with penetration depth—particularly under low water content and dry density due to the soil's high-resistivity nature. Finally, based on the experimental results, the minimum penetration threshold for four electrode resistivity testing of sand and cohesive soil materials was determined. The research results provide necessary data support and theoretical basis for the evaluation and application of electrical testing technology.
LI Zhi-jie, CHU Ya, CAI Guo-jun, YAN Chao, LIU Song-yu, HAN Ai-min.
Influence Law of Electrical Conductivity Needle Penetration of Geotechnical Materials[J].
Science Technology and Engineering, 2026, 26(12): 4959-4970 DOI:10.12404/j.issn.1671-1815.2503348
四相电极法通过在试样两侧施加激发电极、内部插入测试电极,再经欧姆定律换算得到电阻率,适用于黏性土、粉土、砂质土等软质材料[4-5]。该方法虽解决了激发电极的极化干扰,但需将测试电极针入试样内部,会破坏土样完整性,产生试验误差并影响测量准确性,因此电阻率测试的测试精度以及仪器适用范围与评价方法需要进一步提高。针对室内直流电法测试装置的局限性,许多学者进行了大量的研究,并提出了相应的改进方法。童小龙等[6]、Santamarina等[7]研究发现,两电极法产生两极极化现象的影响,且随着含水率的降低,影响误差显著增大,需要对电极与试件接触面进行处理,使二者接触充分减小接触电阻。Pavoni等[8]提出可通过对试验过程中试验设备的修正来减小这种误差。周蜜等[9]研究表明,这种修正受到很多因素影响,准确修正很困难,建议采用四相电极测试方法,并开展了四相电极探针针入土样深度对电阻率的影响试验研究,该试验只考虑了含水率的影响因素,且选用土样含水率较高,降低了电极针入深度对岩土体电阻率的影响,因此结论不具有代表性。冯晓明[10]进行了重塑马兰黄土试样的电极插入深度分析研究,得出插入深度到达试样中间时,电阻率基本稳定。针对细颗粒土,英国标准协会(British Standards Institution,BSI)发布的规范 Methods of Test for Soils for Civil Engineering Purposes—Chemical and Electro-chemical Testing(BS 1377-3:2018+A1:2021)[11]推荐电极插入样品中间位置或获最佳测量结果;美国材料与试验协会(American Society for Testing and Materials,ASTM)发布的标准Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Soil Resistivity Using the Wenner Four-electrode Method(ASTM G57-20e1)[12]规定:测试电极探针针入深度不超过电极最小间距的5%,但未对针入度的影响规律进行深入研究。吴迪等[13]针对散粒土的四电极电阻率试验显示,饱和砂土电阻率随电极插入深度增大而增加、增长率减小,较深位置测试更准但破坏土样结构完整性,且未深入探讨针入度影响规律及给出合理解释。
参考Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Soil Resistivity Using the Wenner Four-electrode Method(ASTM G57-20e1)[12],自主研发并改良了室内四相电极温纳测试系统(图2),用于开展岩土体电阻率测试试验。该系统以有机玻璃为绝缘材料制作,测试盒尺寸为15 cm(长)×2 cm(宽)×5 cm(高);样品盒内部两侧布设激发电极(表面涂覆银胶材料),顶部按5 cm等间距开设两个直径1 mm的圆孔,供测试电极探针(铜制)插入。系统采用恒压稳定电源(型号 MS303D)实现稳压或稳流供电测试,可输出36 V电压或10 A电流,且直流电压分辨率达0.001 V、直流电流分辨率达0.001 mA。本次测试选用稳压供电模式(兼具输出稳定、操作便捷及准确性高的优势),操作时先将制备好的试样填入温纳测试盒,再测读通路电压差值与电流值,随后依据欧姆定律,结合测试电极间距与试样截面积计算得到试样电阻率,单位为Ω·m,换算公式为
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