Abstract
Complex geological processes form multiple layers and change pore water chemistry, saturation level, and temperature. Eventually, the strata hinder interpreting electrical resistivity data. There are no studies that theoretically explore the effects of electrode geometries and multiple layered systems on laboratory electrical resistivity measurements. This study formulates a theoretical electrical resistance between half spherical-tipped cylindrical electrodes embedded on two horizontal layers. The electrical resistivity of each layer is considered separately in the general electrical potential equation with different equipotential surface areas. The finite element analysis is conducted to validate the theoretical equation. Further interpretation provides insights into the distribution of electrical current flow under electrical resistivity mismatch for discussion.
Highlights
Electrical resistivity tests have been widely conducted at diverse scales, from a few centimeters for laboratory tests to kilometers for field tests
Strata have been formed by complex geological processes, including inevitable compositional variations with depth and unpredictable climate change, all of which lead to variations in pore water chemistry, saturation level, and temperature [4,5,6,7,8]
This paper extends the previous study by authors of [12] to formulate a theoretical electrical resistance between half spherical-tipped cylindrical electrodes embedded on two horizontal layers
Summary
Electrical resistivity tests have been widely conducted at diverse scales, from a few centimeters for laboratory tests to kilometers for field tests. The field tests require enough distance among electrodes, yet laboratory-scale tests need to consider all of the geometries (radius and penetrated depth) of the electrodes, electrode spacing, and container size. There is a need to theoretically explore the effects of electrode geometries and multiple layered system on laboratory electrical resistivity measurements. This paper extends the previous study by authors of [12] to formulate a theoretical electrical resistance between half spherical-tipped cylindrical electrodes embedded on two horizontal layers. The electrical resistivity of each layer is considered separately in the general electrical potential equation with different equipotential surface areas. Further interpretation explains the electrical current density distribution under electrical resistivity mismatch
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