Title: Electrode Configurations for Resistivity Measurements on Concrete

Author(s): W. John McCarter, Gerry Starrs, Siva Kandasami, Rod Jones, and Malcolm Chrisp

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 106

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 258-264

Keywords: electrical resistivity; electrodes; frequency; impedance.

DOI: 10.14359/56550

Date: 5/1/2009

Abstract:
In this study, two- and four-electrode arrangements were used to evaluate the electrical resistance (hence resistivity) of saturated concrete specimens using both embedded rod-electrodes, external plate-electrodes, and combinations thereof. Measurements were obtained mainly at a fixed frequency of 1 kHz. It is shown that the two-electrode external plate measurement system gave higher resistivity values than the four-electrode system; however, studying the electrical response in terms of complex impedance, over the frequency range 1 to 10 MHz, revealed that the sponge-contacting system used in the two-electrode method introduced a spurious resistance attributed to the sponge-sample interface.