USF researchers have invented a contactless Kelvin Probe to measure electric potential of the soil or soil filler surface. The probe can assess the corrosion condition of embedded metallic components such as soil reinforcement, and also serves to monitor cathodic protection in soils without disturbing the soil surface. This enables the probe to immediately measure potential without needing long stabilization periods experienced using conventional contacting reference electrodes. The technology has applications in monitoring the corrosion condition of buried metals, such as pipes and tunnels, and cathodic protection systems.
Kelvin Probe Arrangement for Buried Metal Scanning