Applied Mechanics and Materials Submitted: 2014-11-29

ISSN: 1662-7482, Vol. 785, pp 702-706 Revised: 2015-01-04

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.785.702 Accepted: 2015-04-06
© 2015 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Online: 2015-08-24

Correlation of Electrical Resistivity and SPT-N value from Standard

Penetration Test (SPT) of Sandy Soil
Khairul Anwar Hatta, Syed Baharom Azahar Syed Osman
Civil Engineering Department, University Teknologi PETRONAS
Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia
nua_da_kewell@yahoo.com, sybaharom@petronas.com.my,

Keywords: Electrical resistivity method, 1-D (VES), SPT-N value, Standard Penetration Test.

Abstract - In general practice, soil investigation (SI) incorporating bore hole sampling produced the
most reliable value of the relevant soil parameters for the purpose of actual calculation on the factor
of safety (FOS) in slopes even though time consuming and very expensive. Assessments of slope
stability using electrical parameters have least been researched by many scholars due to non-
destructive and very sensitive and it is an attractive tool for describing the subsurface properties of
the slope without disturbing the physical characteristic of the soil. The method has been applied in
various contexts like groundwater exploration, agronomic management by identifying areas of
excessive or soil horizon thickness and bedrock depth. This paper investigates the relationship
between electrical resistivity and SPT-N values of sandy soils. The research work consists of field
resistivity surveys, soil boring and soil characterization tests. Field survey included 1D vertical
electrical sounding (VES) and standard penetration test (SPT) method in obtaining SPT-N value.
The test is conducted in 3 different areas and 11 sandy soil samples with electrical, physical soil
characterization data which being used for least-squares regression method. In this part of the study,
correlations of electrical resistivity with SPT values of soil were assessed. The findings showed
good correlation between the resistivity and soil properties. The obtained results demonstrate the
possibility usage of electrical resistivity survey as an alternative to SPT is possible.

Introduction
Factor of Safety (FOS) is an important aspect of safety requirement in soil slopes. It is essential
to recognize and determine the actual geotechnical parameters to analyses the stability of ground
slope. To require the suitable/safer FOS values, soil parameters are required, such as cohesion (c),
internal frictional angle (φ), unit weight of soil (γ), etc. to determine the value of FOS of the slope.
To obtain these soil parameters in most reliable way is through geotechnical testing. In-situ samples
are acquired through soil sampling (i.e. boring, excavating) and then subjected to various laboratory
test to determine soil properties for soil classification such as moisture content, specific gravity,
Atterberg limits, etc. and also soil engineering properties.
The general approach behind this quick assessment is to eliminate the usage of physical soil
parameters such as cohesion (c), angle of internal friction (φ), as is currently being practiced for the
calculation of FOS and replaced these physical parameters with the correlated electrical parameters
such as resistivity. This quick method of using the correlated electrical parameters replacing the
actual physical parameters through simple instruments and equipment would mean that a rapid,
regular and extensive check up on the slopes could be possible and practical. Hence, this research in
investigating the correlations between the various soil properties and electrical parameters hopefully
will contribute to the improvement of establishment of FOS in slopes.
The objective of this research study is to find correlation between soil resistivity and SPT-N
value and also some soil parameters. It is much extensive study which eventually develops an
empirical formula. While the scope of work of this research study focuses on finding possible
preliminary crude correlation between resistivity and SPT-N value and some soil parameters of
sandy soil only with a selected range of moisture content.

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 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 785 703

Literature Review

There are many factors affected the electrical resistivity of soil in general. One of the factors is
moisture content which is being identified as one of the major factors that cause change in soil
resistivity [3]. Other general significant are degree of saturation [4]. Other researchers have found
other factors that may affect electrical resistivity such as porosity, electrical resistivity of the pore
fluid, and pore structure [9]. There are also other significant, but for some specific soil and
condition of soil in terms of electrical conductivity of soil such as, the ion content has a significant
effect on the electrical conductivity of clayey soil due to moisture interaction with the surface
charge of clay particle [10]. The formation of water film surrounds the clay particles depends on
soil fabric, also influences the electrical conductivity of soil [10]. Furthermore, dielectric
permittivity [11], temperature [4], operating frequency [5] and pore water composition [7] are also
identified as minor influential significant that affect electrical resistivity of soil. With so many
factors which influence the resistivity value, the most obvious, common factor that affects the
resistivity value is moisture content because water is the most effective medium to transmit electric
current.
Previously, Michot et al., (2003) [1], Fukue et al., (1999) [10], and McCarter (1984) [3] has
done investigation regarding the electrical resistivity of a soil varies with its moisture content.
Based on their findings which summarized in Figure 1, it noted that at low moisture contents
resistivity decreases rapidly with increasing moisture content. The rate of decrease reduces
considerably at moisture contents in excess of 15%, and to a minimum for moisture content in
excess of 20%. Kibria & Hossain (2012) [6] also support this evidence by investigating on the
unspecified clay sample in Figure 2.

Fig 1: Variation of soil resistivity with

volumetric water content for different
soil type (Samouëlian et al., 2004) [8]

Fig 2: Example soil resistivity with gravimetric

water content for unspecified selected soil
(Kibria & Hossain, 2012) [6]
704 Recent Trends in Power Engineering

Research Methodology
The method was designed based on the actual engineering application. This research was
classified as field studies. Emphasize here are the laboratory tests on physical properties and
engineering properties of in-situ samples. Geotechnical assessment of samples was undertaken at
various locations in Malaysia. 11 nos of samples will be set up at different 3 locations during
conducting electrical resistivity tests to get possible undisturbed samples every selected depth of the
ground.
For testing, which is 1D-VES will be used by measuring the resistance between two points in
the soil and this is done by measuring voltage across one pair of electrodes by transmitting a
controlled DC or AC current to another pair of electrodes [2]. There are different types of electrode
arrays that can be used in actual field measurement of electrical resistivity such as Wenner,
Schulumberger, Wenner-Schulumberger, Dipole-dipole, Pole-pole, Pole-dipole and square array,
for this case study, Wenner array will be used.
For characterization and classification of samples, a various tests have been conducted to get
basic properties of samples such as particle size distribution, Atterberg Limit, moisture content, etc.
To obtain SPT-N value, Standard Penetration Test has been conducted by nominated
contractor. The sample will be taken by contractor for soil physical characteristic determination.

Result and Discussion

In this chapter, results from field and laboratory test have been taken from area of Ipoh, Tronoh
and Cameron Highland. These results are presented including soil properties, inverted values of soil
resistivity in 1D, SPT-N values with depth and correlation between soil resistivity and soil
properties.

Soil Properties
The soil properties were investigated according to depth of boreholes in range from 0.5m to
3.0m with 0.5m depth interval. Generally, the investigated soil types are generally sandy soil. The
moisture content of soils indicates the values are 10.67% to 43.19%. Table 1 summarized all data of
moisture content, 1D electrical resistivity and SPT-N value for all 11 samples.

Table 1: Summary data of geotechnical and physical properties of 11 sandy soil samples

Grain Size (%)

Soil Type
Sample Moisture 1D-VES SPT-N Gravel &
Silt & Clay (based on ASTM)
Content (%) (Ohm.m) Sand
1 10.67 1134.9 34 74.30 25.70 Clayey SAND
2 17.22 422.2 10 67.08 32.92 Clayey SAND
3 43.19 317.6 5 70.00 30.00 Silty SAND
4 19.84 433 8 80.00 20.00 Clayey SAND
5 27.82 451.2 4 88.00 12.00 Clayey SAND
6 14.4 488.9 6 85.47 14.53 Clayey SAND
7 13.44 663.5 21 65.00 35.00 Clayey SAND
8 13.92 850.1 30 91.12 8.88 SAND
9 13.04 786.2 27 70.00 30.00 Clayey SAND
10 14.81 623.5 17 95.10 4.90 SAND
11 14.25 549 11 66.91 33.09 Clayey SAND
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 785 705

Correlations of geotechnical data with electrical resistivity

Electrical Resistivity versus Moisture Content
The relationship between moisture content and electrical resistivity values of 11 sandy soil
samples are presented in Fig. 3. The obtained results indicate a curvi-linear relation between
resistivity and moisture content. At lower moisture content, high variation in electrical resistivity
values is observed.

1200
Inverted value 1D - Resistivity

1000

800 y = 4881.5x-0.757
(Ohm.m)

R² = 0.675
600

400

200

0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Moisture Content (%)
Fig. 3: Correlation of electrical resistivity and moisture content for sandy soil sample

Electrical Resistivity versus SPT

The relationship of electrical resistivity of soil and N-values from 11 sandy soil samples are
shown in Fig. 4. From the Figure 4, the obtained correlations show good linear relationship between
electrical resistivity and N-value (R2=0.9007).

1200
Inverted value 1D - Resistivity

1000

800
(Ohm.m)

600
y = 20.942x + 281.56
400
R² = 0.9007

200

0
0 10 20 30 40
SPT-N (N value)

Fig. 4: Correlation of electrical resistivity and N-values for sandy soil sample
706 Recent Trends in Power Engineering

Summary
Resistivity, water content, and SPT-N value relationships have been established for sandy soil
over a practical range of moisture contents, and a unique relationship exists between these
parameters for sandy soil sample. The linear relationship between SPT and resistivity indicates that
low resistivity values usually have low N-values and vice versa. The relationship between moisture
content and resistivity values also demonstrate an acceptable correlation as reported in various
published research literature. Even though that the resistivity/moisture content relationship graph
trend shown little differ than Kibria & Hossain (2012) [6], 6 to 8 more samples with a range of 20%
to 30% of moisture content would give the better pattern of resistivity/ moisture content
relationship. Within the limitation of this research work, it can be concluded that preliminary
correlations were established and the obtained results show the possibility of using electrical
resistivity survey as an alternative to standard penetration test SPT. More field test data are needed
to be collected in different type of soils in order to establish more precise and general correlation
between SPT N-values and electrical resistivity of soil.

Acknowledgements
Funding for this research was provided by University Technology PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia.

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Recent Trends in Power Engineering
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.785

Correlation of Electrical Resistivity and SPT-N Value from Standard Penetration Test (SPT) of Sandy
Soil
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.785.702

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