The research deals with the design of a new device for soil water content measurements in pyroclastic soil covers. Being the latter notoriously location of rainfall-induced flow-slides and debris-flows, the research target is to enhance the monitoring of factors predisposing to failure for their integration in early warning systems. The experimental activity performed on a prototype geometry sensor will be presented. Electric impedance spectroscopy is used herein to apply an alternate signal over a large frequency range to a soil specimen between two electrodes. As the soil impedance depends on the soil humidity, an on-purpose experimental programme has been performed using the prototype geometry sensor, in order to obtain the calibration function relating the measured impedance to the soil water content. Results on the prototype geometry show a unique monotonic correlation between the impedance modulus and the water content with remarkable repeatability performances, confirming the efficacy and reliability of the technique for the geotechnical application under study. The novel device appears to be a promising alternative to traditional water content field measuring instruments, with the advantage of satisfying affordability and versatility requirements.
A Prototype to Measure Water Content in Pyroclastic Soil Covers / Guglielmi, S.; Pirone, M.; Amatucci, N.; Cesaro, U.; D'Arco, M.; Urciuoli, G.. - 1:1(2023), pp. 95-102. (Intervento presentato al convegno the 8th Italian National Conference of the Researchers of Geotechnical Engineering CNRIG23 tenutosi a Palermo nel 5-7 luglio 2023) [10.1007/978-3-031-34761-0_12].
A Prototype to Measure Water Content in Pyroclastic Soil Covers
Guglielmi S.
;Pirone M.;Amatucci N.;Cesaro U.;D'Arco M.;Urciuoli G.
2023
Abstract
The research deals with the design of a new device for soil water content measurements in pyroclastic soil covers. Being the latter notoriously location of rainfall-induced flow-slides and debris-flows, the research target is to enhance the monitoring of factors predisposing to failure for their integration in early warning systems. The experimental activity performed on a prototype geometry sensor will be presented. Electric impedance spectroscopy is used herein to apply an alternate signal over a large frequency range to a soil specimen between two electrodes. As the soil impedance depends on the soil humidity, an on-purpose experimental programme has been performed using the prototype geometry sensor, in order to obtain the calibration function relating the measured impedance to the soil water content. Results on the prototype geometry show a unique monotonic correlation between the impedance modulus and the water content with remarkable repeatability performances, confirming the efficacy and reliability of the technique for the geotechnical application under study. The novel device appears to be a promising alternative to traditional water content field measuring instruments, with the advantage of satisfying affordability and versatility requirements.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
