Soil Identification using Field Electrical Resistivity Method

Abstract

Abstract. Geotechnical site investigation with particular reference to soil identification was important in civil engineering works since it reports the soil condition in order to relate the design and construction of the proposed works. In the past, electrical resistivity method (ERM) has widely being used in soil characterization but experienced several black boxes which related to its results and interpretations. Hence, this study performed a field electrical resistivity method (ERM) using ABEM SAS (4000) at two different types of soils (Gravelly SAND and Silty SAND) in order to discover the behavior of electrical resistivity values (ERV) with type of soils studied. Soil basic physical properties was determine thru density (ρ), moisture content (w) and particle size distribution (d) in order to verify the ERV obtained from each type of soil investigated. It was found that the ERV of Gravelly SAND (278 Ωm & 285 Ωm) was slightly higher than Silty SAND (223 Ωm & 199 Ωm) due to the uncertainties nature of soils. This finding has showed that the results obtained from ERM need to be interpreted based on strong supported findings such as using direct test from soil laboratory data. Furthermore, this study was able to prove that the ERM can be established as an alternative tool in soil identification provided it was being verified thru other relevance information such as using geotechnical properties.

Groundwater Exploration in Granitic Rock Formation Using Electrical Resistivity and Induced Polarization Techniques

“…The earth materials resistance measurements are reduced to apparent resistivity values by inversion process. RES2DINV used a least-squares inversion scheme to determine the appropriate resistivity value so that the calculated apparent resistivity values are in agreement with the measured values [13,15]. It will produce a smooth boundary which is recommended to differentiate between soil material and rocks.…”

Evaluation of Unknown Tube Well Depth Using Electrical Resistivity Method

“…Resistivity value was highly influenced by pore fluid and grain matrix of geomaterials [34]. According to Abidin et al [35][36][37][38], ERV of geomaterials was largely influenced by the variations of basic physical properties of soil such as grain size fraction, moisture content and density. As reported by [39], a soil's ERV generally varies inversely proportional to the water content and dissolved ion concentration as clayey soil exhibit high dissolved ion concentration, wet clayey soils have lowest resistivity of all soil materials while coarse, dry [40].…”

Granite Exploration by using Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI): A Case Study in Johor

“…Geophysical methods play an important role in finding the hidden subsurface of a soil accurately and adequately without bore holing or drilling [4]. Last decades, ERI method has broadly being used in soil characterization but experienced several arguments related to its interpretations and results [5].…”

“…As discussed by [6] and [7]- [9], Geophysical investigation offers a faster, cheaper and has the ability to cover greater areas more thoroughly as stated by [10]; [11] by getting credible and detailed information about the subsurface [12]. Various researchers from all over the world especially in geophysics and geotechnical field have exposed that the integration of geotechnical data and geophysical survey can provide a useful data and interpretation for sub-surface profile characterization [13]- [16].…”