Resistivity Survey of the Subsurface Conditions in the Estuary of the Rio de la Plata
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 1
Abstract
An electrical resistivity survey was performed at the estuary of the Rio de la Plata, as part of more comprehensive geotechnical investigations of the subsurface conditions. The studies were required for the emplacement of a -diameter conduit proposed for the discharge of the treated wastewater of the city of Buenos Aires. The soil profile at the site consists mainly of clays and silts underlain by a layer of dense sand. The dense sand layer is a confined aquifer, and the project required that the depth to the sand layer be perfectly determined. Previous geophysical surveys at the site and the general geotechnical conditions showed the inadequacy of seismic methods, which are usually adopted in similar environments. The resistivity method was determined to be a reliable alternative, even though there has been little experience in surveying shallow depth water for geotechnical investigations. The four-electrode Schlumberger electrode array was adopted for the resistivity survey. Some of the test devices were developed especially for the purpose of this project. Calibration of the method was achieved with data obtained from boreholes. The results show that the resistivity technique performed satisfactorily to the depth required in this project. As a result of the survey, the next geotechnical investigation was focused on a more reduced area and the required number of boreholes was reduced substantially.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank the water company Aguas Argentinas, for permitting publication of the results presented here, and EBIC Geotechnical Firm, which performed the geotechnical boreholes. Dr. Carlos Rinaldi helped with the development of the measuring system and calibration of the numerous devices employed. Their efforts are gratefully acknowledged.
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© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 21, 2001
Accepted: May 3, 2005
Published online: Jan 1, 2006
Published in print: Jan 2006
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