Behaviour of Electrical Resistivity with Soil Strength Parameters by Varying the Particle Size Proportion for Mixed Sand and Silt Samples

Geotechnical properties should be precisely identified as it is essential for a successful
construction of a structure. Bore hole sampling is known as a conventional method of
soil investigation and contributes to reliable determination of soil strength parameters
but this method is costly, time consuming and causes soil disturbance. Geophysical
methods such as electrical resistivity, is proven to be more efficient because of the
non-invasive, non-destructive, rapid and cost-effective aspect. This paper presents the
effects of porosity and saturation on electrical resistivity for different particle size
proportion. In addition, the behaviour of electrical resistivity with soil strength
parameters by varying the particle size proportion for mixed sand and silt samples is
also presented. The research involves laboratory test on the mixture of sand and silt
with different particle size proportion of; (1) 100% sand, (2) 80% sand, 20% silt, (3)
60% sand, 40% silt, (4) 40% sand, 60% silt, (5) 20% sand, 80% silt, and (6) 100% silt
under different moisture content ranging from 15% to 35%.