Interface Electric Resistance of Electroosmotic Consolidation

Abstract

There will be transition zones of electric current near the electrodes, if the electric conductive area of electrodes is smaller than that of soil. Electroosmosis tests show that the electric current in the transition zones follows a complicated two-dimensional path, while the electric current outside these zones is approximately one dimension. The thickness of transition zones is potty compared to the whole thickness of soil between anodes and cathodes. Conception of interface resistance on zero thickness interfaces, which is a simplified expression for finite thickness transition zones, is presented in this paper to simplify the two-dimensional problem within the transition zones into one dimension. Studies show that the interface electric resistance is inversely proportional to the ratio of electric conductive areas between electrodes and soil. A brief formula is deduced to predict the in situ interface electrical resistance, which presents a more accurate estimation of electric current and energy consumption to the design of electroosmotic consolidation engineering.