Time-domain reflectometry — parametric study for the evaluation of physical properties in soils

Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) has become a commonly used method in geotechnical engineering to measure the volumetric water content and electrical conductivity in soils. The ability of TDR to accurately determine soil properties depends on the proper understanding of the parameters that affect the propagation of an electromagnetic pulse along the TDR waveguide. The purpose of this paper is to document a parametric study and analyses aimed at gaining a better understanding of TDR measurements and to evaluate the limits in the measurement technique. A parametric study on TDR signals was performed by determining the effects of heterogeneities in the dielectric permittivity, conductivity, and magnetic permeability in sand and gravel specimens. Impedance differences in the probe head were found to contribute to inaccurate travel-time measurements that affect material dielectric permittivity calculations. The calculated relative dielectric permittivity may also be dependent on local changes in porosity near the probes. Tests performed in layered materials indicate that TDR can be used to find abrupt changes in material permittivity, such as the depth to saturation. However, problems in the determination of capillary rise may contribute to uncertainties in the proper determination of permittivity and thicknesses of layers. The presence of ferromagnetic materials was found to change the measured electromagnetic wave velocity. However, the properties of materials outside the radius defined by the probes and beneath the probes minimally affected the TDR results in the two-rod probe used.