Abstract:In order to solve the issue of high energy consumption and significant potential loss at the soil-electrode interface during electroosmotic consolidation, this study investigates the impact of electrode reactions on interface resistance from an electrochemical perspective. By using a self-designed one-dimensional electro-osmotic consolidation device, indoor experiments were conducted to explore the trend of the clay-electrode interface resistance under different electrode materials and different power supply modes. The trend of interfacial resistance of four different electrode materials, electric geosynthetics (EKG), iron, aluminum and copper, under continuous power supply was investigated through laboratory electroosmotic tests. Further, the electrochemical mechanism of action of two optimized power supply modes, intermittent current and polarity reversal, were investigated. Results show that electrode reactions alter the interface electrochemical properties, affecting interface resistance and thus the electroosmotic drainage rate. The rapid growth of the interfacial resistance is one of the reasons for the high energy consumption of electro-osmosis The anode interface resistance is significantly affected by electrode reactions, with a smaller anode interface resistance observed in the EKG electrode under long-term electrification, while the metal electrode exhibits a larger anode interface resistance due to the combined effects of concentration polarization and surface membrane resistance. Using an optimized power supply strategy could help alleviate interface polarization and inhibit interface resistance growth.