Optimized Electrode Distributions of Embedded Four-Electrode Resistivity Measurement in Cement-Based Materials

The defects and damages of the internal structure of concrete can be deduced according to the resistivity of cement-based materials. Based on the four points Wenner probe and the traditional two-electrode plate ac impedance spectroscopy test method, the embedded four electrodes with the optimized electrode distribution in the cement-based materials are studied in this letter. All three dimensions of the electric field intensity and the electric potential of the cement-based materials were simulated with ANSYS Maxwell to reflect the electrode distribution effect on the resistance measurement. The results indicate that the embedded four electrodes can replace the traditional electrode plate to monitor the resistivity variation in the cement-based materials, and the optimized electrode distributions are located at the trisection line. Moreover, the resistivity obtained from the embedded four electrodes in the cement-based materials correlates well with the compressive strength prediction. Therefore, this embedded four-electrode resistivity measurement makes it possible to monitor the resistivity of the cement-based materials continuously throughout the whole curing age, which provides us a new solution to the application of the electrode distribution of the measurement of the cement paste or concrete resistance in the practical engineering project.