Wave-electric field coupling imaging diagnostic method for filled subgrade

Thick earth-rock filled embankment of large earthwork volume often occurs during the construction of expressways in mountainous and hilly areas. The compaction quality of earth-rock filled subgrade will directly affect the settlement deformation and stability of the embankment after filled. Therefore, effective evaluation on the compaction quality of the earth-rock filled subgrade is an unsolved critical technical issue to control the construction quality of highway engineering. Based on the wave propagation and electrical resistivity characteristics of the earth and rock fillings, a theoretical model of the compaction quality detection by wave-electric field coupling imaging diagnostic method was established. Then, two filled subgrade models containing cavities and heterogeneous bodies respectively were make separately, and by the wave velocity testing and electrical resistivity testing, the wave-electric field coupling imaging diagnostic method was applied to these two model. The result shows that it is feasible to use the wave testing technique and the electrical resistivity testing technique for a diagnostic test of the subgrade compaction quality. Based on the abnormal areas reflected by the wave velocity imaging and electrical resistivity imaging results, we are able to analyze the scope and site of distress but not able to quantitatively evaluate the subgrade compaction quality. We can accurately qualitatively analyze the subgrade compaction quality based on the wave-electric field coupling calculation model of fill subgrade quality proposed by this paper.