Application of electrical resistivity measurement as quality control test for calcareous soil

Abstract EN

Soil properties determination for some applications requires quick, easy and cheap method rather than using the traditional sophisticated, time consuming and expensive laboratory test methods.

The use of non-disturbing test method is very much recommended to have more reliable test results.

Recently, there has been a great demand towards using special techniques and apparatuses for measuring the soil properties in-situ which facilitate having more tests and covering larger area in shorter time.

The electrical geophysical method is one of these techniques which allow rapid measure for soil electrical properties such as electrical resistivity, electrical conductivity and potential directly from soil surface to any depth without soil disturbance.

In this research, laboratory tests were carried out on calcareous soil samples for determining their electrical resistivity after compaction.

Samples were extracted from the soil formation in Ain Helwan inside Helwan University campus.

Soil formation in Ain Helwan is different than the usual Nile formation in Cairo or the desert formation near to Helwan area, as it has calcareous nature.

Results between electrical resistivity and compaction index were plotted and relationships were developed for soil in this site between electrical resistivity and different soil properties, water content and compaction index.

The effect of fine contents on results was also discussed.

Based on the obtained results it was found that the change in water content and fines content are reflected on the obtained electrical resistivity and accordingly an in-situ compaction control can be carried out by applying the electrical resistivity approach.