Electrical Resistivity Features of Compacted Expansive Soils

An electrical resistance apparatus with a highly sensitive alternate current bridge was developed in the paper for the purpose of measuring the electrical resistivity of soils and eliminating the low frequency polarization. The electrical resistivity of Guangxi expansive soils was measured in the laboratory using the developed apparatus. The investigation result demonstrates that the electrical resistivity of the Guangxi expansive soil is a function of the electrical resistivity of soil skeleton and pore water, water content, degree of saturation and void ratio. Along with electrical resistivity, the matrix suction was measured, and the relationship between the electrical resistivity and matrix suction was analyzed. The electrical resistivity-volumetric water content curves are compared with the matrix suction-volumetric water content curves for these soils. The relationship of matrix suction-volumetric water content is observed to be the similar feature to that of the electrical resistivity-volumetric water content curve.