Technical Papers
Jan 29, 2024

Experimental Analysis of Resistivity Changes and Wetting Deformation of Soil−Rock Mixture

Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 4

Abstract

A nondestructive technique is lacking for the quick and accurate detection of wetting deformation in field measurements. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using resistivity to assess wetting deformation. A modified triaxial apparatus was used to conduct wetting tests on a soil−rock mixture (SRM), with simultaneous measurement of resistivity and deformation. The results indicate that resistivity gradually decreases during consolidation and that the magnitude of resistivity changes is affected by the rock content and confining pressure. The resistivity values exhibited a gradual decrease during shearing, with the magnitude of this decrease showing a negative correlation with the rock content. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the rate of deformation and the rate of change of the resistivity. The resistivity in the wetting tests was divided into three distinct stages: prewetting, during wetting, and postwetting. Throughout these stages, a consistent decrease in resistivity was observed. The inflection points observed in the resistivity–axial strain curve can be used to determine the beginning and end of wetting. A mathematical model based on the exponential function is proposed for assessing wetting deformation via resistivity measurements. The experimental results verify the feasibility of real-time monitoring and evaluation of wetting deformation using resistivity.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Data Availability Statement

All data and models supporting this study’s findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 51879017) and the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (grant number KJZD-K202100705).

References

Akamatsu, Y., K. Nagase, N. Abe, K. Okazaki, K. Hatakeyama, and I. Katayama. 2023. “Cross-property relationship between electrical resistivity and elastic wave velocity of crustal rocks from the Oman drilling project hole GT3A: Implications for in situ geophysical properties of oceanic crust.” J. Geophys. Res-Sol. Earth 128 (Jun): e2022JB026130. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JB026130.
Alonso, E., S. Olivella, and N. Pinyol. 2005. “A review of Beliche dam.” Géotechnique 55 (4): 267–285. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2005.55.4.267.
Alonso, E. E., and R. Cardoso. 2010. “Behavior of materials for earth and rockfill dams: Perspective from unsaturated soil mechanics.” Front. Struct. Civ. Eng. 4 (Mar): 1–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-010-0013-6.
An, R., L. Kong, W. Bai, and C. Li. 2020. “The resistivity damage model of residual soil under uniaxial load and the law of drying-wetting effects.” Chin. J. Rock. Mech. Eng. 39 (Jun): 3159–3167. https://doi.org/10.13722/j.cnki.jrme.2019.0514.
ASTM. 2011. Standard test method for consolidated drained triaxial compression test for soils. ASTM D 7181. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Bai, W., L.-W. Kong, A.-G. Guo, and R.-B. Lin. 2017. “Stress–strain–electrical evolution properties and damage-evolution equation of lateritic soil under uniaxial compression.” J. Test. Eval. 45 (Aug): 1247–1260. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20150237.
Bauer, E. 2019. “Constitutive modelling of wetting deformation of rockfill materials.” Int. J. Civ. Eng. 17 (4): 481–486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-018-0327-7.
Birchak, J. R., C. G. Gardner, J. E. Hipp, and J. M. Victor. 1974. “High dielectric constant microwave probes for sensing soil moisture.” Proc. IEEE 62 (Jan): 93–98. https://doi.org/10.1109/PROC.1974.9388.
Bishop, J. R. 1981. “Piezoelectric effects in quartz-rich rocks.” Tectonophysics 77 (3–4): 297–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(81)90268-7.
Cai, G., B. Han, J. Wei, R. Yang, J. Li, and Y. Cui. 2023. “Wetting-induced deformation characteristics of unsaturated compacted sandy loess.” Acta. Geotech. 47 (Oct): 106–128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-01891-8.
Casini, F. 2012. “Deformation induced by wetting: A simple model.” Can. Geotech. J. 49 (8): 954–960. https://doi.org/10.1139/t2012-054.
Chen, C., H. Fu, Q. Gao, L. Zeng, and C. Jia. 2022. “Polyurea reinforcement of disintegrated mudstone embankments and the underlying mechanism.” Transp. Geotech. 37 (Nov): 100874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2022.100874.
Chen, G., and Y. Lin. 2004. “Stress–strain–electrical resistance effects and associated state equations for uniaxial rock compression.” Int. J. Rock. Mech. Min. 41 (2): 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1365-1609(03)00092-3.
Chinese Standard. 2019. Standard for geotechnical testing method. GB/T50123. Beijing: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China.
Du, Q., Y. Liu, and Z. Cao. 2015. “Large-scale triaxial tests on metamorphic soft rock embankment filler for wetting deformation characteristics.” [In Chinese.] Rock. Soil. Mech. 36 (Jan): 41–46. https://doi.org/10.16285/j.rsm.2015.01.005.
Duan, J., G. Yang, M. Hu, X. Lei, and Y. Lin. 2020. “Swelling characteristics of andesite foundation induced by water immersion and their influence on ballastless track subgrade.” J. Mountain Sci. 17 (4): 1001–1012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5773-4.
Fukue, M., T. Minato, H. Horibe, and N. Taya. 1999. “The micro-structures of clay given by resistivity measurements.” Eng. Geol. 54 (1–2): 43–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(99)00060-5.
Guo, Y., Y. Cui, J. Xie, Y. Luo, P. Zhang, H. Liu, and J. Liu. 2022. “Seepage detection in earth-filled dam from self-potential and electrical resistivity tomography.” Eng. Geol. 306 (Sep): 106750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106750.
Iravani, M. A., J. Deparis, H. Davarzani, S. Colombano, R. Guérin, and A. Maineult. 2020. “The influence of temperature on the dielectric permittivity and complex electrical resistivity of porous media saturated with DNAPLs: A laboratory study.” J. Appl. Geophys. 172 (Jan): 103921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2019.103921.
Jackson, P. D., D. Taylor Smith, and P. N. Stanford. 1978. “Resistivity-porosity-particle shape relationships for marine sands.” Geophysics 43 (6): 1250–1268. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1440891.
Jia, Y., B. Xu, S. Chi, B. Xiang, D. Xiao, and Y. Zhou. 2018. “Joint back analysis of the creep deformation and wetting deformation parameters of soil used in the Guanyinyan composite dam.” Comput. Geotech. 96 (Apr): 167–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.10.018.
Jia, Y., B. Xu, C. S. Desai, S. Chi, and B. Xiang. 2020. “Rockfill particle breakage generated by wetting deformation under the complex stress path.” Int. J. Geomech. 20 (Oct): 04020166. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001789.
Jiang, M., E. Ji, T. Wang, S. Li, J. Zhu, and G. Mei. 2023. “Experimental study on laws of scale effects of shear strength of coarse-grained soils.” Chin. J. Geotech. Eng. 45 (Apr): 855–861. https://doi.org/10.11779/cjge20220102.
Jiang, Y., and S. Chi. 2020. “Triaxial test on wet deformation of coarse grains.” [In Chinese.] J. Water Resour. Archit. Eng. 18 (Apr): 137–141.
Jidan, C., and L. Ziyu. 1982. Dielectric physics. Beijing: Mechanical Industry Press.
Jin, Y., S. Li, and D. Yang. 2020. “Experimental and theoretical quantification of the relationship between electrical resistivity and hydrate saturation in porous media.” Fuel 269 (Jun): 117378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117378.
Komolvilas, V., M. Kikumoto, and H. Kyokawa. 2022. “Mechanism of wetting–induced deformation and failure of unsaturated soils.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods 46 (6): 1064–1092. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.3336.
Lee, B., S. Oh, and M.-J. Yi. 2020. “Mapping of leakage paths in damaged embankment using modified resistivity array method.” Eng. Geol. 266 (Mar): 105469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105469.
Li, S., T. Wang, H. Wang, M. Jiang, and J. Zhu. 2022. “Experimental studies of scale effect on the shear strength of coarse-grained soil.” Appl. Sci.-Basel 12 (1): 447. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010447.
Liao, M., H. Tang, C. Su, and W. Jiang. 2010. “Genesis of high immobile water saturation in the low resistivity reservoirs and its influence on the low resistivity reservoirs.” [In Chinese.] Pet. Geol. Exp. 32 (Aug): 353–357.
Liu, X., Y. Jia, J. Zheng, H. Shan, and H. Li. 2013. “Field and laboratory resistivity monitoring of sediment consolidation in China’s Yellow River estuary.” Eng. Geol. 164 (Sep): 77–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.06.009.
Lyu, C., Q. Sun, W. Zhang, and S. Hao. 2019. “Effects of NaCl concentration on electrical resistivity of clay with cooling.” J. Appl. Geophys. 170 (Nov): 103843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2019.103843.
Medley, E., and E. S. Lindquist. 1995. “The engineering significance of the scale-independence of some Franciscan melanges in California, USA.” In Proc., 35th US Symp. on Rock Mechanics (USRMS). Reno, Nevada: OnePetro.
Nan, S., J. Ren, L. Zhang, H. Li, Z. Ma, J. Kang, and H. Guo. 2023. “Geotechnical, geoelectric and tracing methods for earth/rock-fill dam and embankment leakage investigation.” Surv. Geophys. 2023 (Aug): 1–52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-023-09806-8.
Perrone, A., V. Lapenna, and S. Piscitelli. 2014. “Electrical resistivity tomography technique for landslide investigation: A review.” Earth Sci. Rev. 135 (Aug): 65–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2014.04.002.
Razouki, S. S., and B. M. Salem. 2014. “Soaking–drying frequency effect on gypsum-rich roadbed sand.” Int. J. Pavement Eng. 15 (10): 933–939. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2014.893326.
Riaz, S., M. Kikumoto, M. Basharat, and A. D. Putra. 2021. “Wetting induced deformation of soils triggering landslides in Pakistan.” Geotech. Geol. Eng. 39 (8): 5633–5649. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01851-7.
Salih, W. T., W. Yu, X. Dong, and W. Hao. 2020. “Study on stress-strain-resistivity and microscopic mechanism of red mud waste modified by desulphurization gypsum-fly ash under drying-wetting cycles.” Constr. Build. Mater. 249 (Jul): 118772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118772.
Seladji, S., P. Cosenza, A. Tabbagh, J. Ranger, and G. Richard. 2010. “The effect of compaction on soil electrical resistivity: A laboratory investigation.” Eur. J. Soil. Sci. 61 (6): 1043–1055. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2010.01309.x.
Shao, X., S. Chi, Y. Tao, and X. Zhou. 2020. “DEM simulation of the size effect on the wetting deformation of rockfill materials based on single-particle crushing tests.” Comput. Geotech. 123 (Jul): 103429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103429.
Sjödahl, P., T. Dahlin, and S. Johansson. 2010. “Using the resistivity method for leakage detection in a blind test at the Røssvatn embankment dam test facility in Norway.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ. 69 (4): 643–658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-010-0314-y.
Su, J., C. Yang, W. Wu, and R. Huang. 2002. “Effect of moisture content on concrete resistivity measurement.” J. Chin. Inst. Eng. 25 (1): 117–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/02533839.2002.9670686.
Tian, H., G. Wang, K. Wang, Q. Feng, H. Wu, and Z. Feng. 2020. “Study on the effect of pore structure on resistivity of carbonate reservoirs.” Chin. J. Geophys. 63 (Nov): 4232–4243. https://doi.org/10.6038/cjg2020O0110.
Wang, J., D. Zhang, N. Wang, and T. Gu. 2019. “Mechanisms of wetting-induced loess slope failures.” Landslides 16 (5): 937–953. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-019-01144-4.
Wei, H., W. Xu, X. Xu, Q. Meng, and C. Wei. 2018. “Mechanical properties of strongly weathered rock–soil mixtures with different rock block contents.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (May): 04018026. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001131.
Wei, S., and J. Zhu. 2006. “Study on wetting breakage of coarse-grained materials in triaxial test.” [In Chinese.] Chin. J. Rock. Mech. Eng. 25 (Jun): 1252–1258.
Xu, W., and R. Hu. 2009. “Conception, classification and significations of soil-rock mixture.” Hydrogeol. Eng. Geol. 36 (Aug): 50–56. https://doi.org/10.16030/j.cnki.issn.1000-3665.2009.04.018.
Xu, W., and H. Zhang. 2021. “Research on the effect of rock content and sample size on the strength behavior of soil-rock mixture.” Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ. 80 (3): 2715–2726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-02050-z.
Xu, W.-J., R.-L. Hu, and R.-J. Tan. 2007. “Some geomechanical properties of soil–rock mixtures in the Hutiao Gorge area, China.” Geotechnique 57 (Apr): 255–264. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2007.57.3.255.
Yin, Y., Y. Wu, B. Zhang, Y. Ding, and X. Sun. 2019. “Two-stage wetting deformation behaviour of rock-fill material.” Environ. Geotech. 9 (Apr): 94–107. https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.18.00130.
Yuan, G., and A. Che. 2023. “Evaluation of the spatial characteristics of slope erosion using field electrical resistivity measurements.” Geophysics 88 (3): 59–71. https://doi.org/10.1190/geo2021-0753.1.
Yuan, G., A. Che, and S. Feng. 2020. “Evaluation method for the physical parameter evolutions of highway subgrade soil using electrical measurements.” Constr. Build. Mater. 231 (Jan): 117162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117162.
Yuan, S., O. Buzzi, X. Liu, and J. Vaunat. 2019. “Swelling behaviour of compacted Maryland clay under different boundary conditions.” Geotechnique 69 (6): 514–525. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.17.P.140.
Zeng, X., H. Liu, H. Zhu, C. Ling, K. Liang, H. A. Umar, Y. Xie, G. Long, and C. Ma. 2020. “Study on damage of concrete under uniaxial compression based on electrical resistivity method.” Constr. Build. Mater. 254 (Sep): 119270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119270.
Zhang, B., L. Feng, M. Zhang, P. Sun, T. Li, and H. Liu. 2022. “Application of resistivity measurement to stability evaluation for loess slopes.” Landslides 19 (12): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-022-01951-2.
Zhang, S., A. Zhang, and T. Chen. 2005. “Triaxial slaking test research on rock fill deformation feature.” [In Chinese.] Chin. J. Rock. Mech. Eng. 24 (Nov): 5938–5942.
Zhang, X., M. Zhao, and K. Wang. 2021. “Experimental study on the streaming potential phenomenon response to compactness and salinity in soil–rock mixture.” Water 13 (15): 2071. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13152071.
Zhao, M., K. Wang, X. Sun, and Y. Zhang. 2011. “Comparison between the isotope tracking method and resistivity tomography of earth rock-fill dam seepage detection.” Engineering 2011 (Apr): 8. https://doi.org/10.4236/eng.2011.34045.
Zhou, X., S. Chi, and Y. Jia. 2019a. “Wetting deformation of core-wall rockfill dams.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (Aug): 04019084. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001444.
Zhou, X., S. Chi, Y. Jia, and X. Shao. 2020a. “A new wetting deformation simulation method based on changes in mechanical properties.” Comput. Geotech. 117 (Jan): 103261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103261.
Zhou, X., S. Chi, M. Wang, and Y. Jia. 2020b. “Study on wetting deformation characteristics of coarse granular materials and its simulation in core-wall rockfill dams.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods 44 (Jan): 851–873. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.3042.
Zhou, X., J. He, S. Chi, and J. Wang. 2023. “Study on collapse settlement and cracks of core wall rockfill dams under wetting deformation.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods 47 (Jan): 106–128. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.3462.
Zhou, X., G. Ma, and Y. Zhang. 2019b. “Grain size and time effect on the deformation of rockfill dams: A case study on the Shuibuya CFRD.” Geotechnique 69 (7): 606–619. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.17.P.299.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36Issue 4April 2024

History

Received: Feb 27, 2023
Accepted: Oct 4, 2023
Published online: Jan 29, 2024
Published in print: Apr 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jun 29, 2024

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Ph.D. Candidate, Engineering Research Centre of Diagnosis Technology of Hydro-Construction, Chongqing Jiaotong Univ., Chongqing 400074, China. Email: [email protected]
Kui Wang, Ph.D. [email protected]
Associate Professor, Engineering Research Centre of Diagnosis Technology of Hydro-Construction, Chongqing Jiaotong Univ., Chongqing 400074, China (corresponding author). Email: [email protected]
Mingjie Zhao, Ph.D. [email protected]
Associate Professor, Chongqing Univ. of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China. Email: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share