Evaluating the Effectiveness of Wenner Mode Configurations for Resistivity-based Moisture Monitoring in Compressed Earth Bricks

Abstract

Compressed Earth Bricks (CEBs) have emerged as an eco-friendly construction material, although their properties are highly moisture dependent. This study investigated the applicability of electrical resistivity techniques for non-destructive moisture assessment in CEBs and determined the optimal electrode configurations for small-scale CEB samples. Various Wenner array electrode configurations, including Wenner Alpha, Beta, and Gamma arrangements, were tested on CEB specimens across a wide range of relative humidity levels. Numerical modeling using the finite element method was employed to simulate the current diffusion process in CEB samples. A mathematical formulation was developed to calculate the true electrical resistivity of the specimens based on the measured resistance and the geometric factors obtained from the numerical model. The results show that the electrical resistivity of CEBs exhibited a logarithmic relationship with moisture content, and the Wenner Alpha and Gamma configurations were proved to be the most suitable for small-scale samples. The proposed approach demonstrates the feasibility of continuous non-destructive moisture monitoring of CEBs to improve quality control.