A simplified experimental method to study conductivity percolation

Rev Sci Instrum. 2019 Jul;90(7):076105. doi: 10.1063/1.5096969.

Abstract

A simplified experimental setup and a measurement method adapted to the simplified data analysis proposed in previous works are described in detail. The setup is intended for investigation of the conductivity percolation in the water network formed on granular materials and studied in the course of dehydration. The results show that the new, easily accessible experimental setup enables determination of the principal percolation parameters with the same accuracy as the more sophisticated equipment employing an impedance analyzer. Mean critical exponents obtained from data collected for the samples of moisturized sand grains sized 0.6-0.8 mm by means of both experimental methods give the same results within the limit of measurement uncertainty.