Direct Research Journal of Chemistry and Material Science

Abstract

An effective earthing system is the lifeline of any electrical wiring and installation. This study was done to evaluate the geotechnical (moisture content and electrical conductivity) and electrical properties of soil samples within the school of engineering complex, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Nigeria. All the geotechnical and electrical parameters investigated in this study were done in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International approved methods. The electrical conductivity meter was used to measure the soil electrical conductivity; while the soil resistance was measure through the Wenner four probes method. Results obtained from both the field and laboratory tests revealed that the soil electrical conductivity, soil moisture content, and soil resistances varied greatly across the study area. The moisture content ranged from 15.48% (wb) to 24.45% (wb); while the electrical conductivity ranged between 3.09 dS/m and 5.41dS/m. The results revealed that the soil resistance decreases as the probe distance increased from 5 m to 10 m. At 5 m probes distance, the soil resistance varied between 4.8 Ω and 17.2 Ω; at 10 m probes distance, the soil resistance ranged from 2.9 Ω to 14.8Ω; while at 15 m probes distance, the soil resistance fell between 1.5 Ω and 10.5 Ω.  In terms of the soil resistivity, the results should the region with clay soil had the lowest soil resistivity (mean~158.15 Ω m), while the region with the sandy recorded this highest soil resistivity of 820 Ω m. The knowledge of these soil’s properties is crucial for the design of earthing systems for structures within the school of engineering complex. This will helped to minimize electrical hazards to both human beings and the materials within the complex.

Keywords: Earthing, electrical conductivity, moisture content, soil resistance, soil resistivity