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Thick Film Sensors for Soil Measurements

Authors:
Gerardo Espindola Garcia
John Karl Atkinson
Joel Andrew Smethurst

Keywords: thick film; soil resistivity; water content

Abstract:
Water content has considerable influence on soil pore water pressure and shear strength, potentially leading to failure in earthworks. This research aims to develop novel sensors (employing Thick-Film electrodes) intended to detect changes in soil parameters such as resistivity, porosity and water content and determine if these are indicative of earthworks instability (potential slope failure). Using Thick Film electrodes to measure parameters could be a cost effective method for condition monitoring. The resistivity output of the sensors and how it relates to the soil water content needs to be understood, and a framework of working conditions for this sensing technology needs to be documented. In this study, the behaviour of the Thick Film cell developed by the University of Southampton was tested for a particular soil particle size by simulating heavy rainfall and rising of the water table within a soil column. Final results show a consistent response from Thick Film cell for the specific soil sample used, however, the direction of infiltration has created a very interesting difference in resistivity readings that need to be further investigated.

Pages: 129 to 135

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2017

Publication date: September 10, 2017

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-3514

ISBN: 978-1-61208-581-4

Location: Rome, Italy

Dates: from September 10, 2017 to September 14, 2017