604

IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol. 5, No. 2, April 1990

ANALYSIS OF APPARENT RESISTIVITY IN A MULTI-LAYER EARTH STRUCTURE

Takehiko Taliahashi,hlember.IEEE Taroh Kawase,Member,IEEE

Dept. of Electrical Engineering,Chiba Univ.

1-33,Yayoi-cho,Chiba,260JAPAN
KEYWORDS: s o i l , r e s i s t i v i t y , B e s s e l f u n c t i o n , N - l a y e r , e a r t h Abstract
Analysis of apparent resistivity in a multi-layer earth structure has been performed and an expression for obtaining the apparent resistivity in such a structure has been derived as an extension of previously established ones for the two-layer model. This expression has enabled the preparation of p-a curves for an arbitrary number of layers, and as a result has provided a basis for investigation into the features of p-a curves in a multi-layer earth structure. In addition, a technique for estimating earth parameters is presented and shown to be effective based on two case studies. This technique can be applied to an earth structure with an arbitrary number of layers, and since it is not performed manually, can significantly reduce the amount of error involved. mode1,Wenner.s
configuration,estimation p a r a m e t e r s

calculated the apparent resistivity in a horizontally stratified multi-layer earth structure using the Wenner four-electrode method, and have investigated the preparation of p-a standard curves for an arbitrary number of layers. This has enabled the comprehension of p-a curve features for a variety of earth parameters and has made possible the investigation of techniques for estimating these earth parameters. The end result of the above findings, i.e., the ability to perform laver-by-layer earth analysis, will enable the introduction of earth parameter information necessary for the calculation of earth resistance for deepdriven rods in a multi-layer earth structure, as reported by the authors in a separate paper. This paper first derives the theoretical equations for calculating earth resistivity in order to prepare the p-a curves It then describes the features of p-a curves in a multi-layer structure and some examples of estimating earth parameters Finally, the authors present their method for estimating earth parameters in a multi-layer earth structure

1. Introduction

Among the methods for estimating earth parameters (e.g., thickness and earth resistivity of each layer in a horizontally stratified multi-layer earth structure), some representative ones are the p-a curve method, the ground resistance reverse calculation method and the electrical logging method. The p-a curve method. in Particular, is characterized by a graph expressing the relationship between observed value p (earth resistivity) and electrode spacing a obtained using the well-known Wenner fourelectrode method. Earth parameters are estimated by comparing the obtained curves with standard curves and auxiliary curves established for a multi-layer earth structure. Sundberg and Tagg have provided standard curve comparison methods for analyzing such p-a curves. In both of these methods. a horizontal twolayer earth structure is assumed, and for structures of three layers or more. reference must be made to this two-layer structure analysis. In addition. as correlation with standard and auxiliary curves 1s performed manually. some amount of expertise is required. Thus, as the above standard curves are not intended for multi-layer structures, curve analysis in such cases can frequently become quite difficult. The p-a curve method for estimating earth parameters using the Wenner four-electrode measurements is relatively simple, and its usefulness has always been recognized However, it is not a method explicitly directed at multi-layer structures In response to this situation. the authors have

2 Derivation Of Equations For Earth Resistivity Calculation .

2.1 Basic Equations for Potential Due to a Point Electrode

As shown in Figure 1, assuming a homogeneous and isotropic earth resistivity (indicated by p), the basic equation for the potential at any points in the earth due to a current I flowing through a point electrode situated on the surface is given by

vo--- PJSW e-XJo(Rz)dR ............ ( 1 ) 27c

0

where PO IS the resistivity and ]o(hx) is the Bessel function of the first kind Of Order zero. Note that in this paper a low frequenoj domain is assumed in which ail current can be treated as direct current.

89 SM 626-3 P R WD A paper recommended and approved by t h e I E E E S u b s t a t i o n s Committee of t h e IEEE Power Engineering S o c i e t y f o r p r e s e n t a t i o n a t t h e IEEE/PES 1989 Summer Meeting, Long Beach, C a l i f o r n i a , J u l y 914, 1989. Manuscript submitted January 31, 1989; made a v a i l a b l e f o r p r i n t i n g A p r i l 21, 1989.

F i g . 1 P o t e n t i a l a t any p o i n t i n t h e e a r t h

0885-8977/90/0100-0604$01.00 0 1990 IEEE

605
2.2 Horizontally Stratified Two-layer Earth Model 111
The model for a horizontally stratified two-layer earth structure is shown in Figure 2, where hi is the thickness of the first layer, and the resistivities of the two layers are indicated by p i and pz The potential for any point in each layer is given by the following equations: Thus, solving for these two functions with the above boundary conditions, we get:

fl(2)

= -~

k le- 2 X h

1 - kl e - Z X h

vi= vo+v2/ ........................... v = vo + 2

(2)
Substituting these expressions for fl(A) and gliA) into equation ( 6 ) and rearranging. we can express the potential at the earth surface (z = 0) by

Here, Vo is the potential for a homogeneous earth of resistivity PO, and can be expressed according to basic equation ( 1 ):

............... ( 3 )
where we can let IzI = z, since the direction along the z axis from the origin downward is taken as positive. In equation (2), V i and V2 are correction terms corresponding to the influence of the second layer, and are expressed by the following equations using unknown functions f(A) and g(Ak

v,= 2 n x (1+ F2

(5))

.................. ( 8 )

v?=l w { f 2 @

*x Jo (25 )dR ........................

(R)e-xz+ g2 (2)ez)

{fi

(A)e-XZ+ (A)e} gl

2.3 Three to Five-Layer Earth Model Extending the two-layer earth model described in the previous section, we now develop a model for a horizontally stratified three to five layer earth structure. In order to determine a general solution for the potential, we consider corrective terms reflecting the influence of other layers in the same way as equation ( 2 ) , and establish the following boundary conditions: 1 J the potential in the lowest layer as z goes to infinity is zero; 2) the current flow at the earth surface is zero; 3) the potential at a boundary is the same for the layers on either side of the boundary; and 4 ) the current IS continuous at the boundary between two layers. On the basis of the above, we must now determine the values of the unknown functions. The overall object here is to determine the potential at the earth surface. Consequently, although all of the unknown functions are necessary in the calculation process, in the end, determining only those in the expression for the V i potential in the first layer is sufficient. Thus using the equations for the potential in the various layers and employing the above boundary conditions, the unknown functions in the potential equation for the first layer are solved as shown in Table 1 Note here that g ( A ) and f(A) will be equivalent to each other in any multi-layer earth structure

(4)

2n 0 X Jo (A5 )d R

............... ......... ( 5 )

i
2

v:

F i g . 2 Two-layer

e a r t h model

Substituting equations (3). ( 4 ) and

is) into equation ( 2 ) ,we get

(A)) e - X Z + (A)eXZ} 91
(6)

{ [ 1+ f i

x Jo (A5 )dR ........................

{ (( 1+fi

(A)] e - X Z + (A)eAz} g2
(7)

If we now substitute the unknown functions in Table 1 into the potential equation for the first layer, the potential at the earth surface can be determined For example, in the case of a three-layer earth structure, we obtain the following equation

x Jo (A5 )d A ........................

v (5) 2 3 = 2 n I (1. P x

F (5)) 3

...............( 9 )

Unknown functions f(A) and g(A) are determined according to the following boundary conditions:

where

Table 1 Values of functions : f ( A ) , Q ( A )

I
Earth9 t PUC tur

I'

-x

2
~. .

............

P!

1'1

i
4

18

Fig.3 N-layer earth model

2.4 Horizontally Stratified N-layer Earth Model

2.5 Application to Wenner's Four-electrode Configuration

The placement of electrodes in Wenner's configuration for a N-layer earth structure is shown in Figure 4. The distance between any two electrodes is a. and current I is made to flow through the earth by applying power between electrodes c1 and c2. Given that a potential difference V appears between electrodes pi and p2, the apparent resistivity pa can be expressed by the following equation:

The theoretical model for a horizontally stratified N-layer earth structure is shown in Figure 3. Solving for unknown functions by the same method as in the three to five-layer earth model described above, the potential at any point x on the earth surface for a current I entering a surface point electrode can be expressed by the following equation:

pa = 27 l n - I .................................

(11)

where

Labeling the above electrodes as electrodes 1 to 4, it can be considered that the potential due to current I from electrode 1 and that due to current -I from electrode 4 exist independently. Furthermore, since the potentials here assume an N-layer earth, they can be calculated using previously derived equation (10). Thus, for electrode 2, if we indicate the potential due to electrode 1 ( I ) as V21, and that due to electrode 4 (-1) as V24. we obtain the following equations:

and

VZl = vh' ( a )=
?'24

2 na

(1

F N (a))

......... (12)
(2 a ) )
(13)

= V N (2 a )= p10

4na

(1

F N

..............................

In addition,

p.Y

Fig.4 Wenners configuration f o r N-layer earth

607

Likewise, for electrode 3:

Table 2

E a r t h parameters f o r four-layer e a r t h
h3=20

Thickness (m) : k L = 5 , kz=lO, Earth resistivity (p'm) :

V34 VN( a )= e = )

2na

(1 FAT ) ) (a

.. . ( 15)
~
~

10 100

500
10

10

100

-I
_
I

Curve in Fig. 5

10

100
100

We thus obtain the following expression for the potential dlfference appearing between electrodes 2 and 3:

_
_

50

_
_
50

_
_

_
_

500

_
_ ~

500 500

100

50

_
10

100

V N=v 2

v =( v + 3 2
1

V 4 2 )

(v 1 3

v 4) 3

2za

(1 2 F~( a )-

(2 a ) ) ...... ( 16)

l,coor

If we now substitute equation (16) into basic equation ( 1 1). we can obtain the theoretical expression for the apparent resistivity pa in a horizontally stratified N-layer earth model:

pa = p1(1+ ~ F ( a )- F ~ ( 2 a ) ) ........ (17) N .

Electrode spacing where
(m)

F.v(z)l

z-n,za

is of the same form as in equation (10)

Fig.5 Typical apparent r e s i s t i v i t y curves

for four-layer e a r t h

Equation (17) is the general equation for calculating the apparent resistivity in the case of a horizontally stratified multi-layer earth structure.

3. Preparation of p-a Curves for a Multi-layer Earth

For a two-layer earth model, p-a curves have already been investigated by Hummel and standard curves prepared. Here, in order to make a comparison with these well-known two-layer standard curves, we set N-2 in equation (17). i.e., we first performed calculations for the case of a two-layer model. The results were within an error of f O . l % . Using our own calculation program, we then prepared multi-layer p-a curves and investigated the relationship between earth parameters and apparent resistivity from various viewpoints. We were then in a position to investigate the application of the above to the estimation of earth parameters.

(2) Five-layer earth model: In the same manner, the layer thicknesses and resistivities for a five-layer earth model are listed in Table 3, and the resulting p-a curves in shown in Figure 6 . Although the p-a curves for any layer configuration will eventually converge to the p of the lowest layer, the electrode spacing at that time will vary depending on earth parameters. Also, as shown in the figure, the existence of extremum values in the curves will occur as described for the four-layer model. Specifically,no extremum exist for curves C and D, while in the other cases extremum are readily visible for high p or large h.

Table 3

E a r t h p a r a m e t e r s for f i v e - l a y e r e a r t h
(m) : h,=5, h?=10, h3=20, k 4 = 4 0

Thickness Earth resistivity

(Q.4 :

Curve in

3.1 Features of p-a Curves in Relation to Earth Parameters

( 1) Four-layer earth mode!: Setting the thickness of each layer constant

and using the earth parameters listed in Table 2, we obtain the p-a curves in Figure 5 for a four-layer earth model. Although all curves reflect their corresponding earth parameter values, curves A, B and E in particular have two extreme values. This is due to the irregular way in which the p value changes. On the other hand, the gradual increase of p for curve C and the gradual decrease of p for curve D produces no extremum, and a clear distinction between the different layers does not appear.

608

b) p variation: large + small + large

small

Figure 8 shows a similar set of p-a curves although this time for values of p varying in a manner different than that in a) above. As can be seen, each curve steadily converges to its lowest layer p value.

Electrode spacing

a (m)

Fig.6 Typical apparent resistivity curves for five-layer earth

loo--

(3) Earth Model by geologic formation

Up to now, any particular set of p-a curves has been prepared with the number of layers and their respective thicknesses constant. However, in order to estimate earth parameters, since estimation is performed in order starting from the top layer, the preparation of a single set of p-a curves due to different geologic formations, i.e.. different number of layers, must be investigated. Thus, we now take a look at features of p-a curves as we consecutively increase the number of layers and in addition, vary the relative size of p in adjacent layers. a) p variation: small

IO
Electrode spacing
U

(m)

Fig.8 Typical apparent resistivity curves due to geologicformation ( variation : fall and rise )

3.2 Application to Estimation of Earth Parameters

In the manner described above, it has become possible to prepare p-a curves according to a variety of earth parameters on the basis of derived equations. These curves can be looked upon as standard curves, and the features of different layers can be understood according to curve patterns. It can thus be considered that a correspondence of these curves with p-a curves obtained from actual readings should be applicable to the estimation of earth parameters. Thus, using p-a curve data obtained from actual earth measurements and p-a curves prepared according to arbitrary earth parameters, let's now investigate the feasibility of this p-a curve comparison technique. The comparison method as proposed by the authors is as follows. Measurement data obtained by the Wenner four-electrode method is plotted on a log-log grid and p-a curves drawn. In addition, arbitrary earth parameters are input and calculated values are compared with the above drawn curves. In the event that agreement is found, such input parameters then become estimated earth parameters. Measurement data from several sources were used as case studies to evaluate this technique, as described below.
(1) Case study 1: Data appearing in Shimura's paper was first used as a basis of evaluation. Figure 9 shows the results of comparing p-a curve analysis using two-layer standard curves (hereafter referred to as twolayer analysis) with the calculation technique based on apparent resistivity equations for a multi-layer earth structure as proposed in this paper (hereafter referred to as the proposed technique). The black dots in the figure represent measured data, and curve A is a result of calculations in which earth parameters obtained from two-layer analysis are substituted into equation (17), while curve B is a result of the proposed technique. Comparing the above, we can see that curve B tends to be closer to the measured data. Estimated earth parameters are also listed in the table inset in this figure.

large

small

large

Figure 7 shows p-a curves prepared for two- to five-layer models according to the earth parameters listed in the figure inset. As can be seen, each curve (geologicformation) exhibits features related to their earth parameters. For example, although two-layer curve A steadily converges to its second layer p2 value, three-layer curve B exhibits an extremum due to its large p2 value, though it eventually converges to its p3 value if electrode spacing a is made large enough.

f L
m
a*
I-'

h-

; E ' c G
.rl
a)*-

22

:< : a m
1

10 Electrode spacing

100
a

(m)

Fig.7 Typical apparent resistivity curves due to geologic formation ( variation : rise and fall )

609

Table 4

Estimation error for electrode spacing a

E

,000

Electrode spacing

Estimated e r r o r
TWO- 1ayer analysis

(%)
a(m)
10

a (mj
1 2

I T h i E technique1

Estimated e r r o r E

(%)

This technique

+ 2.46 + 5.78

3
4

1 I

- 6.47 - 8.47
-11.18 -13.90 -14.40

1I
1
I
I

+2.11 +1.11 +2.53 +4.0S +5.88 +2.60 +0.30

i
I

__..____

6
7

I1 11 1I II
1 1

- 8.51 - 3.76
$ 2.44 .

12

___
14

13

+ 6 82
+12.71 +20.20 +24.36

I1
I
I I

-0.53
-1.29 +2.00 +3.32 +4.92 +5.12

15

16

+6.07

10 I

I I 1 I I I I

10 Electrode spacing

I I lllil 130 (m)

Fig.9 Curves based on case study 1 data

Preparation of p-a curves by the proposed technique is performed on the basis of inputting estimated earth parameters. Specifically,in order to perform comparison with the actual measured data shown in Figure 9, p-a curve B is constructed by inputting various earth parameters while making reference to the patterns of multi-layer standard curves previously databased. To obtain curve B, operations involving input of 5 cases of earth parameters were performed (about 3 minutes of CPU time is required for one curve). In the two-layer analysis according to Shimura's paper, estimation of earth parameters is limited to three layers, and using such earth parameters, p-a curve A in Figure 9 was constructed on the basis of equation (17).On the other hand, in the proposed technique, earth parameters can be estimated up to five layers, and on this basis curve B in Figure 9 was constructed. As can be seen in the figure, a certain amount of deviation exists between the measured data and the curves based on both the two-layer analysis and the proposed technique. Thus , if we let the true value po represent the measured data and p the estimated value, then the error t resulting from the above two methods can be expressed as

2) Case study 2:'The next study employs p-a curve measured data from Gumma Prefecture and ground resistance data for boring electrodes (radius 0.028m) of lengths up to 42m. On the basis of this data, we will again try to verify the proposed technique. In a multi-layer earth structure, if we take a look at the relationship between the length 1of the driven electrode and the ground resistance R. an inflection point in the ground resistance appears at the boundary between two layers. This inflection point provides information on layer thickness. The R-L curves constructed from the measured data in this case are shown in Figure 10. Examining the inflection points, it can be seen that from the ninth layer on, no such information can be accurately determined. In other words, layer thickness h(m),one of several earth parameters. can only be estimated as follows: hi-3, h2-7, h3-2, h4-5, h5=9, hg=l,h7=3, and hs=9.

Measured d a t a

1, (m), R;

(n)

Using this equation, we obtain the list of estimation errors shown in Table 4. As the table indicates, error with respect to measured data for the proposed technique is under 6 % .For two-layer analysis, however, due to the fact that analysis can be performed only up to three layers, large errors can result. In particular, for shallow measurement depths, values obtained by two-layer analysis nearly agree with true values, but for deep measurement depths, the error becomes large. This suggests that limits exist for the existing two-layer analysis method, and confirms what Shimura has pointed out, that as the number of layers increases, error arises.

Fig.10

Relationship between electrode length and earth resistance

610

In case study ( 1 ) above, depth and earth resistivity were considered as two variables to be estimated. In this case, however, since we have R-L curve data, it is sufficient to treat only the earth resistivity as a variable. The results of matching the measured data with the p-a curves constructed by two-layer analysis and the proposed technique are shown in Figure 11. Here, the deviation increases for both methods as a increases, reflecting the same tendency in case study (1). However, the proposed technique for the most part agrees very well with the measured data. Thus, the values for the estimated earth parameters for the area in question become as shown in the figure inset. Next, as a result of substituting these earth parameters into the ground resistance calculation formula for a multi-layer earth structure, we obtain the following ground resistances: for 1-10.70.6; for 1-20, 36.3; for 1-30, Comparing these values with the 18.1; for 1=40, 11.9 (units: I(m), (~2)). measured data in Figure 1 1 , we see that they are sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes, indicating that earth parameters based on the proposed technique are sound.

Acknowledgements The authors would like to express their deep appreciation to Dr.Tatsuo Kawamura of the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, for his encouragement of this work. References
111 G. F. Tagg: "Earth Resistance" (book),George Newnes Ltd., (1964)
121 T. Shimura: "Denki-Tansa-Ho" (in Japanese), Shyokodo. Ltd., (1970)

131 T. Takahashi. T Kawase: "Tasohmikake-Daichi-Teikohritsu-No-Kaiseki" (in Japanese), T. IEE Japan, Vol. 108-B. #E, pp. 383-389, 1988

Takehiko Takahashi(M'83) was b o r n i n F u k u s h i m a , J a p a n on J u l y 10,1947. He r e c e i v e d t h e B.S.degree i n E l e c t r i c a l Engi n e e r i n g f r o m Tokyo Denki U n i v e r s i t y i n 1 9 7 0 . H e i s now working a t Chiba University. H i s special fields of reseach are E l e c t r i c a l S a f e t y , L i g h t n i ng P r o t e c t i o n and Grounding o f E l e c t r i c a l Power System. H e i s a member o f t h e I E E J , t h e I E I E J a n d t h e IEEE P o w e r E n g i n e e r i n g S o c i e t y .

Electrode spacing
Fig.11

a (m)

C u r v e s based on case s t u d y 2 d a t a

4. Conclusion

An expression for the apparent resistivity in an earth structure with an arbitrary number of layers has been derived for the Wenner fourelectrode method The expression was arrived at by performing an analysis of apparent resistivity in a multi-layer structure as an extension of studies which up to now have concentrated on the two-layer model Applying a series of parameter data to this expression enabled the preparation of p a curves for such a multi-layer structure, and these curves were compared with actual p-a curves obtained from two case studies The results showed good agreement, indicating that the proposed expression and parameter estimation technique could be practically applied to ground design problems In particular earth parameters for a multi-layer structure obtained through the method described here can be used for calculating the ground resistance required by deep-driven rods in a particular geologic formation Future studies will focus on the results of applying more test data to the above expression and on refining the method for estimating earth parameters in particular its automation

T a r o h Kawase(M'83) w a s b o r n i n Tokyo,Japan o n March 9,19 35.He r e c e i v e d t h e B . S . d e g r e e i n Electrical Engineering from Chiba U n i v e r s i t y i n 1959 a n d t h e D r ; o f Eng. d e g r e e f r o m U n i v e r s i t y of Tokyo i n 1 9 6 6 . H e is now a P r o f e s s o r of E l e c t r i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g , Chiba University. D r . K a w a s e i s a member o f t h e I E E J a n d Vice P r e s i d e n t o f t h e I n s t i t u t e of E l e c t r i c a l I n s t a l l a t i o n E n g i n e e r i n g o f J a p a n , a n d t h e IEEE Power E n g i n e e r i n g S o c i e t y

611

Discussion

r e f l e c t i v i t y can b e e x p r e s s e d as:
&-P'+I-P'
pi+l+pi

F. P. Dawalibi, (Safe Engineering Services & technolgies ltd.): The

authors are to congratulated for a timely and well-written paper. More than a decade ago, the discusser and his colleagues introduced two-layer soil analysis to the power engineering community. It took almost ten years for the use of two-layer grounding analysis to become widespread in power engineering. This paper will certainly contribute in developing further use of multilayer soil analysis in substation grounding. It is important to note, however, that considerable work on soil resistivity interpretation has been undertaken during the past 30 years in the field of geophysical prospecting. This work is so extensive and complete that the most pertinent reference would be to cite the IEEE transaction journal on Geophysical Prospecting and other equivalent national and international journals. The analytical technique used by the authors is a robust, but perhaps time-consuming technique for interpreting mutli-layer soils. I would like to have the authors' opinion on the following. In recent years, the discusser and many users of SES's CDEGS software package have been using multi-layer soil interpretation algorithms based on filter theory coupled with convolution techniques. This approach was introduced more than 20 years ago by Koefoed and Gosh [1,2] and is now widely used by the geophysical engineering community. With this method, we are able to interpret multi-layers soils with horizontal and vertical layers about five to ten times faster than with the more conventional methods. The only drawback of this method appears to be the need for a periodic sampling of the measurements. Our exerience indicates, however, that the conventional methods also need regularly-spaced measurements in order to perform adequately, particularly when soils with more than two layers are being interpreted. Finally, I would also like to have the authors' comments on the performance of their methods when applied to a soil structure with adjacent layers having highly contrasting resistivity values (i.e., reflection coefficient on the order of +0.9 or more). For example, does the authors' method take more time to achieve a satisfactory interpretation of the soil structure when highly contrasting layer resistivities are present? Again, I would like to commend the authors for introducing multi-layer soil interpretation to the power engineering field.
Manuscript received July 28, 1989.

F i g . 1 R e f l e c t i v i t y ( r e f l e c t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t ) P1=100

p-a curve I n e a r t h model by g e o l o g i c f o r m a t i o n s , h a s been p r e p a r e d f o r two- t o f i v e l a y e r s modeis accor d i n g t o t h e e a r t h parameters l i s i t e d i n t h e f i g u r e i n s e t . Fig.2,3 shows t h e e a r t h r e s i s t i v i t y v a r i a t i o n i n c a s e of k=+0.9,+0.95. And F i g . 4 , 5 shows i n case of k=-0.9 ,-0.95. I t h a s become p o s s i b l e w i t h our method t o p r e p a r e p a curves a c c o r d i n g t o a v a r i e t y of e a r t h parameters i n c a s e of h i g h l y c o n t r a s t i n g e a r t h r e s i s t i v i t y v a l u e s .

100-

,-. E
v

i:
d
10-

T.TAKAHASH1 and T.KAWASE: The a u t h o r s a p p r e c i a t e t h e d i s c u s s i o n provided by Dr.F.B.Dawalibi. And we should l i k e t o e x p r e s s g r a t e f u l t h a n k s f o r h i s encouragement. W do'nt know v e r y w e l l about some p a p e r s p r e s e n t e d e by Koefoed and Ghosh, and SES's CDEGS s o f t w a r e package. W e t h i n k , t h e r e i s a v a r i e t y n o t o n l y of r e s e a r c h t o p i c s b u t a l s o of r e s e a r c h t e c h n i q u e s . The method of t h e appa r e n t r e s i s t i v i t y c a l c u l a t i o n and e a r t h parameters estimation depend on t h e purpose of t h e r e s e a r c h . I n t h i s p a p e r , w e have c a l c u l a t e d t h e apparent resis t i v i t y i n a h o r i z o n t a l l y s t r a t i f i e d multi-layer e a r t h s t r u c t u r e u s i n g t h e Wenner f o u r e l e c t r o d e method,and have i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of p-a s t a n d a r d curv e s f o r an a r b i t r a r y number of 1 a y e r s . T h i s h a s enabled t h e comprehension of p-a curve f e a t u r e s f o r a v a r i e t y of e a r t h parameters,and h a s made p o s s i b l e t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n of t e c h n i q u e s f o r e s t i m a t i n g t h e s e parameters. The end of r e s u l t of o u r r e s e a r c h w i l l e n a b l e t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n of e a r t h parameter i n f o r m a t i o n n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e c a l c u l a t i o n of e a r t h r e s i s t a n c e f o r deep d r i v e n rods i n a m u l t i - l a y e r e a r t h s t r u c t u r e . W e have t r i e d t o c a l c u l a t e t h e apparent r e s i s t i v i t y i n case of a s o i l s t r u c t u r e w i t h a d j a c e n t l a y e r s having h i g h l y c o n t r a s t i n g r e s i s t i v i t y v a l u e s . The r e f l e c t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t ( r e f l e c t i v i t y ) kt a t boundary between t h e f i r s t and second l a y e r s can be e x p r e s s e d as:
K1=

1-

,,
1

I
I
I
I O
I

'

"

'

'

'

'

10

a (m)

100

1 1000

F i g . 2 Apparent r e s i s t i v i t y i n c a s e of k=+0.9

( p z - (0l ) / ( pz

+p

1)

I n t h e c a s e of a non-homogeneous e a r t h , t h e r e f l e c t i v i t y k , c a n b e used as an i n d e x of e a r t h c u r r e n t flow a t a l a y e r boundary. I n g e n e r a 1 , f o r an upper and lower l a y e r e a r t h r e s i s t i v i t y of pi and pi.1 , r e s p e c t i v e l y , t h e

F i g . 3 Apparent r e s i s t i v i t y i n c a s e of k=+0.95

612

1-

...............................
1
10

a (m)

100

1000

Fig.4 Apparent r e s i s t i v i t y i n c a s e of k=-0.9

11

10

a (m)

loo

1 1 1 0

Fig.5 Apparent r e s i s t i v i t y i n c a s e of k=-0.95 Manuscript r e c e i v e d August 29, 1989.