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18.08.2013

Soil Thermal Resistivity Testing for rail infrastructure

Soil thermal resistivity testing is essential for electrical rail infrastructure. It is acknowledged that electrical cables produce heat. This heat is a by-product of the electrons in the metal. When the particles move there is friction. Friction causes heat and this is why the cable heats. In high load areas such as Rail infrastructure most of the cables are carried above ground but all transformers have their cables below ground. This is where soil thermal resistivity testing takes on a large responsibility. To keep the cable sizing and rating of the cable down to a minimum definitive soil testing must be performed before to determine the thermal resistivity of the existing soil. When this is determined our clients are able to place the right cable for the project. If it is determined that the existing material is of low resistivity it can be replaced with and the cables placed in a stabile thermal material such as a flow able fill.