Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia

Title: APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD IN ASSESSING SOIL FOR THE FOUNDATION OF BRIDGE STRUCTURES: A CASE STUDY FROM THE WARSAW ENVIRONS, POLAND
Authors: Kowalczyk Sebastian, Zawrzykraj Piotr and Maślakowski Maciej
DOI: 10.13168/AGG.2017.0005
Journal: Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia, Vol. 14, No. 2 (186), Prague 2017
Full Text: PDF file (8.3 MB)
Keywords: Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI); resistivity cone penetration test (RCPT); engineering geological and geotechnical methods; peat; gyttja; organic soils, civil-engineering application.
Abstract: The paper presents an application of the geoelectrical method in organic soils occurring in the area of a designed investment. Two techniques have been applied: electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) and measurements with a resistivity cone penetration test (RCPT). ERI measurements made using Schlumberger and gradient arrays have allowed to obtain a two-dimensional image of resistivity variability in the soil medium. RCPT measurements have enabled an accurate observation of vertical changes in electrical resistivity (or conductivity) in the soil medium in selected measurement points. Electrical resistivity is a physical parameter that may reflect the variability of the geological medium with regard to lithology if the range of conductivity of water filling the pore space is narrow. When it is properly calibrated with borehole data, ERI interpretation allows to determine the boundaries between different soil layers. Adaptation of the “cumulative resistivity” method to RCPT data enabled to distinguish layers characterized by different physical properties and corresponding to boundaries of geological-engineering layers. ERI and RCPT measurements conducted during expressway construction have contributed to the recognition of soils of low bearing capacity such as organic soils (peats, gyttja and aggradate muds).