Application of 2-D and 3-D Geo-electrical Resistivity Tomography and Geotechnical Soil Evaluation for Engineering Site Investigation:A Case Study of Okerenkoko Primary School,Warri-Southwest,Delta State,Nigeria

In the design of building structures,joint efforts must be decided to resolve the depth of competent layers across the intended site to safeguard the durability of civil engineering structures and to avert the disastrous consequences of structural failure and collapse.In this study,an integrated methodology that employed DC resistivity tomography involving 2-D and 3-D techniques and geotechnical-soil analysis was used to evaluate subsoil conditions for engineering site investigation at Okerenkoko primary school,in the Warri-southwest area of Delta State,to adduce the phenomena responsible for the visible cracks/structural failure observed in the buildings.The results obtained brought to light the geological structure beneath the subsurface,which consists of four geoelectric layers identified as topsoil,dry/lithified upper sandy layer,wet sand(water-saturated)and peat/clay/sandy clayey soil(highly water-saturated).The deeply-seated peat/clay materials(ρ≤20Ωm)were delineated in the study area to the depths of 17.1 m and 19.8 m from 2-D and 3-D tomography respectively.3-D images presented as horizontal depth slices revealed the dominance of very low resistivity materials i.e.peat/clay/sandy clay within the fourth,fifth and sixth layers at depths ranging from 8.68-12.5 m,12.5-16.9 m and 16.9-21.9 m respectively.The dominance of mechanically unstable peat/clay/sandy clay layers beneath the subsurface,which are highly mobile in response to volumetric changes,is responsible for the noticeable cracks/failure detected on structures within the study site.These observations were validated by a geotechnical test of soil samples in the study area.Atterberg’s limits of the samples revealed plasticity indices of zero.Thus,the soil samples within the depth analyzed were representatives of sandy soil that does not possess any plasticity.The methods justifiably provided relevant information on the subsurface geology beneath the study site and should be appropriated as major tools for engineering site assessment/geotechnical projects.

Landslide monitoring in southwestern China via time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography

The dynamic monitoring of landslides in engineering geology has focused on the correlation among landslide stability,rainwater infiltration,and subsurface hydrogeology.However,the understanding of this complicated correlation is still poor and inadequate.Thus,in this study,we investigated a typical landslide in southwestern China via time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography（TLERT） in November 2013 and August 2014.We studied landslide mechanisms based on the spatiotemporal characteristics of surface water infiltration and flow within the landslide body.Combined with borehole data,inverted resistivity models accurately defined the interface between Quaternary sediments and bedrock.Preferential flow pathways attributed to fracture zones and fissures were also delineated.In addition,we found that surface water permeates through these pathways into the slipping mass and drains away as fissure water in the fractured bedrock,probably causing the weakly weathered layer to gradually soften and erode,eventually leading to a landslide.Clearly,TLERT dynamic monitoring can provide precursory information of critical sliding and can be used in landslide stability analysis and prediction.

Nonlinear inversion for electrical resistivity tomography based on chaotic DE-BP algorithm

Nonlinear resistivity inversion requires efficient artificial neural network(ANN)model for better inversion results.An evolutionary BP neural network(BPNN)approach based on differential evolution(DE)algorithm was presented,which was able to improve global search ability for resistivity tomography 2-D nonlinear inversion.In the proposed method,Tent equation was applied to obtain automatic parameter settings in DE and the restricted parameter Fcrit was used to enhance the ability of converging to global optimum.An implementation of proposed DE-BPNN was given,the network had one hidden layer with 52 nodes and it was trained on 36 datasets and tested on another 4 synthetic datasets.Two abnormity models were used to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method,the results show that the proposed DE-BP algorithm has better performance than BP,conventional DE-BP and other chaotic DE-BP methods in stability and accuracy,and higher imaging quality than least square inversion.

Hydrate formation and distribution within unconsolidated sediment:Insights from laboratory electrical resistivity tomography

Laboratory visual detection on the hydrate accumulation process provides an effective and low-cost method to uncover hydrate accumulation mechanisms in nature.However,the spatial hydrate distribution and its dynamic evolutionary behaviors are still not fully understood due to the lack of methods and experimental systems.Toward this goal,we built a two-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography(ERT)apparatus capable of measuring spatial and temporal characteristics of hydrate-bearing porous media.Beach sand(0.05–0.85 mm)was used to form artificial methane hydrate-bearing sediment.The experiments were conducted at 1°C under excess water conditions and the ERT data were acquired and analyzed.This study demonstrates the utility of the ERT method for hydrate mapping in laboratory-scale.The results indicate that the average electrical conductivity decreases nonlinearly with the formation of the hydrate.At some special time-intervals,the average conductivity fluctuates within a certain scope.The plane conductivity fields evolve heterogeneously and the local preferential hydrate-forming positions alternate throughout the experimental duration.We speculate that the combination of hydrate formation itself and salt-removal effect plays a dominant role in the spatial and temporal hydrate distribution,as well as geophysical parameters changing behaviors during hydrate accumulation.

Resistivity tomography study on samples with water-bearing structure

The apparent resistivity of the samples with water-bearing configuration was measured by an electrode-array and 2-D resistivity images of these samples were reconstructed then. The obtained series of tomograms reveal the dis tribution and its variation of true resistivity within the samples caused by the changes of crack and liquid distribu tion. Applying this method to the simulation experiment on the electrical properties of rocks, the fracturing and water filling process, which produces the electrical changes, can be brought to light clearly.

Mapping Subsurface Seepage Flow Patterns in Proximity to a Coal Combustion Residual Landfill Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography

Electrical resistivity tomography data were acquired in proximity to the coal combustion residual landfill in an effort to image and analyze seepage pathways through the shallow residual soil and underlying karsted limestone bedrock. The water table is at a depth of more than 45 m. The most prominent subsurface seepage pathways identified on the acquired electrical resistivity tomography data are located immediately adjacent to the toe of the landfill and are attributed to stormwater run-off. The moisture content of the limestone appears to decrease gradually with increasing distance from the toe of the landfill, suggesting there is also a horizontal component of moisture flow in the subsurface. Shallow limestone with higher moisture content generally underlies or is in close proximity to anthropogenic features such as drainage ditches and clay berms that are designed to channel run-off. At one location, electrical resistivity tomography data were acquired along essentially the same traverse at different times of the year, and the resistivity of shallow limestone overall was lower on the data acquired after heavy rains.

Application of 3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography for Diagnosing Leakage in Earth Rock-Fill Dam

The leakage occurs during operation of the dam in Liuhuanggou reservoir. It’s a threat to the safety of the people’s lives and property in downstream. In order to eliminate the hidden danger of reservoir, ensure the safety of the dam, play better the function of flood control and water storage of the reservoir etc., we apply the 3D electrical resistivity tomography detecting technology and volume rendering image processing technology, make the measurement in field, process the data and combine the field survey to find out the leakage channels inside the dam. The results show that the 3D resistivity images appear the low resistivity zone corresponding with the leakage channels. There are two main leakage channels that come from different location inside the dam. It is feasible to diagnose the leakage in earth rock-fill dam by applying 3D electrical resistivity tomography.

Numerical Simulation Study on the Detection of Weak Structural Plane of Rock Slope by Using 3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography

The weak structure plane is an important factor affecting the stability of rock slope, and detecting the spatial structure of the weak structural plane is beneficial to analyze the stability of the slope and estimate the quantity of the landslide. Based on 3D electrical resistivity tomography, a model of rock slope with weak structure plane is established, and the characteristics of three-dimensional resistivity imaging of weak structure plane under different ground water conditions are simulated. The results show that the weak structural plane has a better reflection in 3D electrical resistivity tomography;the distribution of weak structural plane of 3D resistivity imaging can be roughly determined under different ground water conditions;the three-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography is feasible in the detection of weak structural plane of rock slope.

The application of resistivity tomography to hydrogeological exploration

Resistivity tomography, an advanced technique reconstructing resistivity image from a series of potential survey of electrode arrays is quite different from the non linear inversion of wave problems. The main problem in the resistivity reconstruction is how to solve the Poisson′s equation of direct current fields in voluminous media and to complete the inversion iteration efficiently. A mathematical idea of cascade algorithm proposed by Shima (1992), as an example, is introduced briefly in this paper. The emergence of water flood in tunnels in Wennan Coal Mine, Shandong Province, gave us chances to carry out hydrogeological exploration twice using resistivity tomography in 1995～1996. Three profiles with a total length of 5832 m and a maximum depth of 120 m in tomograms are completed. The series of resulting tomograms distinctly reveal the distributions of stratigraphic structure, mined out areas, fracture zones, crack belts and piping water loss zones. These results from tomograms are verified by drill records and then successfully adopted in the followed hydrogeological engineering in the coal mine. Finally, the authors discussed the technical method and existing problems in resistivity tomography.

Detecting the Resistivity Distribution of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete by Electrical Resistance Tomography Method

According to the principle of electrical resistance tomography （ ERT）, the resistivity distribution of the carbon fiber reinforced concrete （CFRC） in the sensing field can be measured by injecting exciting current and measuring the voltage on the sensor electrode arrays installed on the surface of the object. Therefore, measurement of the resistivity distribution of CFRC is divided into first measuring the boundary conditions and then inversely computing the resistivity distribution. To reach this goal, an ERT system was constructed, which is composed of a sensor array unit, a data acquisition unit and an image reconstruction unit. Simulations of static ERT was performed on set-ups with many objects spread in a homogeneous background, and a simulation of dynamic ERT was also done on a rectangular board, the resistivity of which was changed within a small domain of it. Then, the resistivity distribution of a CFRC sample with a circlar hole as the target was detected by the ERT system. Simulation and experimental results show that the reconstructed ERT image reflects the resistivity distribution or the resistivity change of CFRC structure well. Especially, a small change in resistivity can be identified from the reconstructed images in the simulation of dynamic ERT images.

Application of geophysical methods in fine detection of urban concealed karst:A case study of Wuhan City,China

The construction of modern livable cities faces challenges in karst areas,including ground collapse and engineering problems.Wuhan,with a population of 13.74×10^(6) and approximately 1161 km^(2)of soluble rocks in the urban area of 8569.15 km^(2),predominantly consists of concealed karst areas where occasional ground collapse events occur,posing significant threats to underground engineering projects.To address these challenges,a comprehensive geological survey was conducted in Wuhan,focusing on major karstrelated issues.Geophysical methods offer advantages over drilling in detecting concealed karst areas due to their efficiency,non-destructiveness,and flexibility.This paper reviewed the karst geological characteristics in Wuhan and the geophysical exploration methods for karst,selected eight effective geophysical methods for field experimentation,evaluated their suitability,and proposed method combinations for different karst scenarios.The results show that different geophysical methods have varying applicability for karst detection in Wuhan,and combining multiple methods enhances detection effectiveness.The specific recommendations for method combinations provided in this study serve as a valuable reference for karst detection in Wuhan.

The Method for Inferring a Buried Fault from Resistivity Tomograms and Its Typical Electrical Features

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been used to experimentally detect shallow buried faults in urban areas in the past a few years, with some progress and experience obtained. According to the results from Olympic Park, Beijing, Shandong Province, Gansu Province and Shanxi Province, we have generalized the method and procedure for inferring the discontinuity of electrical structures (DES) indicating a buried fault in urban areas from resistivity tomograms and its typical electrical features. In general, the layered feature of the electrical structure is first analyzed to preliminarily define whether or not a DES exists in the target area. Resistivity contours in resistivity tomograms are then analyzed from the deep to the shallow. If they extend upward from the deep to the shallow and shape into an integral dislocation, sharp flexure (convergence) or gradient zone, it is inferred that the DES exists, indicating a buried fault. Finally, horizontal tracing is be carried out to define the trend of the DES. The DES can be divided into three types-type AB, ABA and AC. In the present paper, the Zhangdian-Renhe fault system in Zibo city is used as an example to illustrate how to use the method to infer the location and spatial extension of a target fault. Geologic drilling holes are placed based on our research results, and the drilling logs testify that our results are correct. However, the method of this paper is not exclusive and inflexible. It is expected to provide reference and assistance for inferring the shallow buried faults in urban areas from resistivity tomograms in the future.

Integrated Geoelectrical Resistivity Method for Environmental Assessment of Landfill Leachate Pollution and Aquifer Vulnerability Studies

Leachate plumes from landfills are a major source of pollution in Nigeria, especially in urban areas. Assessing leachate contamination in the subsoil is considered a complex process that needs detailed field measurement to accurately define the extent of contamination. To ascertain the extent of pollution of the subsoil and groundwater sources which were reportedly contaminated by leachate plumes from an old dumpsite located in Osubi town, an integrated geo-electrical method involving 1-D vertical electrical sounding (VES) and 2-D, 3-D ERT techniques were employed. Orthogonal set of 2-D apparent resistivity data was collected in a 100 × 50 m2 rectangular grid around the dumpsite, using the Wenner array. Two years later, three (3) 2-D resistivity imaging profiles were also recorded in time-lapse mode at the dumpsite to monitor the possible effects of attenuation on the leachate over time. Ten (10) VES data were also acquired and used along with the 2-D imaging data. 2-D apparent resistivity data were inverted with Dipprowin software program. The orthogonal set of 2-D lines of apparent resistivity was merged into 3-D data and inverted with RES3DINV program to create a 3-D subsurface resistivity model. Geological models observed from 2-D and 3-D resistivity inversion revealed low resistivity values in the order ρ Ω·m which is indicative of leachate plumes in the saturation zone (pore water). The 2-D resistivity-depth sections imaged low resistivity leachate plumes at the near surface (<5 m) to a depth of 25.0 m, while 3-D inversion depth slices imaged leachate contaminant within the first, second and third layers at depth ranging from 0.00 - 2.50 m, 2.50 - 5.38 m and 5.38 - 8.68 m respectively. Thus, leachate contamination clearly increased with depth beyond the depth of first and second aquifers in the area which implies that available groundwater for domestic use is already contaminated with leachate from the dumpsite. Leachate contaminant-depth map estimated for the second geoelectric layers for VES 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 shows that the second layer has been invaded completely by leachate contamination up to 6.5 m depth. 2-D apparent resistivity data acquired two years after show lower resistivity anomalies of the leachate plume caused by time-lapse attenuation effect on the observed resistivity of the leachate. This indicates that the leachate plume has become more conductive and toxic to the environment. The Longitudinal conductance map of the area shows that the aquifer protective capacity of this area is weak (0.1 - 0.19 Mho) thus, aquifers in the area are prone to pollution from the dumpsite. The three techniques used in this study (2-D, 3-D ERT and 1-D VES) fitly provided crucial information on the degree of contamination caused by the landfill leachate plume. Therefore, it is advisable to implement an environmental remediation and leachate management program.

The Effect of Sparger Geometry on Gas Bubble Flow Behaviors Using Electrical Resistance Tomography

By electrical resistance tomography (ERT) the cross sectional profiles of gas hold-up in a φ56mm bubble column are obtained with four designs of gas sparger. The effect of sparger geometry on the bubble distribution is re-vealed by applying a sensitivity conjugated gradients reconstruction method (SCG). Experimental results show that over-all hold-up obtained by ERT is generally in good agreement with those measured with the pressure transducer and the ERT system produces informative evidence that the radial profiles of hold-up is very similar to the sparger design in the lower section of bubble column. Meanwhile, the rise velocity of bubble swarm and the Sauter mean bubble size are evaluated using ERT based on dynamic gas disengagement theory. The experimental results are in good agreement with correlations and conventional estimation obtained using pressure transmitter methods.

An adaptive electrical resistance tomography sensor with flow pattern recognition capability

The all traditional electrical resistance tomography (ERT) sensors have a static structure, which cannot satisfy the intelligent requirements for adaptive optimization to ERT sensors that is subject to flow pattern changes during the real-time detection of two-phase flow. In view of this problem, an adaptive ERT sensor with a dynamic structure is proposed. The electrodes of the ERT sensor are arranged in an array structure, the flow pattern recognition technique is introduced into the ERT sensor design and accordingly an ERT flow pattern recognition method based on signal sparsity is proposed. This method uses the sparse representation of the signal to express the sampling voltage of the ERT system as a sparse combination and find its sparse solution to achieve the classification of different flow patterns. With the introduction of flow identification information, the sensor has an intelligent function of adaptively and dynamically adapting the sensor structure according to the real-time flow pattern change. The experimental results show that the sensor can automatically identify four typical flow patterns: core flow, bubble flow, laminar flow and circulation flow with recognition rates of 91%, 93%, 90% and 88% respectively. For different flow patterns, the dynamically optimized sensor can significantly improve the quality of ERT image reconstruction.

Design of Parallel Electrical Resistance Tomography System for Measuring Multiphase Flow

ERT(electrical resistance tomography) is effective method for visualization of multiphase flows,offering some advantages of rapid response and low cost,so as to explore the transient hydrodynamics.Aiming at this target,a fully programmable and reconfigurable FPGA(field programmable gate array)-based Compact PCI(peripheral component interconnect) bus linked sixteen-channel ERT system has been presented.The data acquisition system is carefully designed with function modules of signal generator module;Compact PCI transmission module and data processing module(including data sampling,filtering and demodulating).The processing module incorporates a powerful FPGA with Compact PCI bus for communication,and the measurement process management is conducted in FPGA.Image reconstruction algorithms with different speed and accuracy are also coded for this system.The system has been demonstrated in real time(1400 frames per second for 50 kHz excitation) with signal-noise-ratio above 62 dB and repeatability error below 0.7%.Static experiments have been conducted and the images manifested good resolution relative to the actual object distribution.The parallel ERT system has provided alternative experimental platform for the multiphase flow measurements by the dynamic experiments in terms of concentration and velocity.

Determination of rock mass integrity coefficient using a non-invasive geophysical approach

Determination of rock mechanical parameters is the most important step in rock mass quality evaluation and has significant impacts on geotechnical engineering practice.Rock mass integrity coefficient(KV)is one of the most efficient parameters,which is conventionally determined from boreholes.Such approaches,however,are time-consuming and expensive,offer low data coverage of point measurements,require heavy equipment,and are hardly conducted in steep topographic sites.Hence,borehole approaches cannot assess the subsurface thoroughly for rock mass quality evaluation.Alternatively,use of geophysical methods is non-invasive,rapid and economical.The proposed geophysical approach makes useful empirical correlation between geophysical and geotechnical parameters.We evaluated the rock mass quality via integration between KV measured from the limited boreholes and inverted resistivity obtained from electrical resistivity tomography(ERT).The borehole-ERT correlation provided KV along various geophysical profiles for more detailed 2D/3D(two-/three-dimensional)mapping of rock mass quality.The subsurface was thoroughly evaluated for rock masses with different engineering qualities,including highly weathered rock,semi-weathered rock,and fresh rock.Furthermore,ERT was integrated with induced polarization(IP)to resolve the uncertainty caused by water/clay content.Our results show that the proposed method,compared with the conventional approaches,can reduce the ambiguities caused by inadequate data,and give more accurate insights into the subsurface for rock mass quality evaluation.

Electrical geophysical evaluation of susceptibility to flooding in University of Nigeria, Nsukka main campus and its environs, Southeastern Nigeria

Flooding occurs when rainfall exceeds the absorption capacity of soil and causes significant environmental consequences.In this study,electrical resistivity techniques were employed to assess the flood susceptibility of the study area by examining variations in electrical properties.Prior to flooding,Vertical Electrical Sounding(VES)and Electrical Resistivity Tomography(ERT)profiles were conducted to determine the variations in resistivity within subsurface lithologies exposed to the injected current.The injected current penetrated the subsurface units characterised by resistivity ranging from 190.5Ω·m to 6,775.7Ω·m,42.3Ω·m to 7,297.4Ω·m,and 320.2Ω·m to 24,433.3Ω·m in the first,second and third layers,respectively.These layers were identified as lateritic topsoil,medium-coarse brownish grained sand,and coarse pebbly blackish sand,respectively.The calculated reflection coefficients between layers 1,2,and 3 reveal alternation in layers with values ranging from−0.04 to 0.66 and 0.36 to 0.95 for and,respectively.The transverse resistivity,longitudinal resistivity and anisotropy ranged from 243.59Ω·m to 24,115.42Ω·m,199.61Ω·m to 14,950.76Ω·m,and 1.02 to 2.14.Models derived from the ERT profiles reveal variations in resistivity,pinpointing areas of low resistivity which correspond to waterlogged and impermeable layers.The result of this study underscores the importance of integrated resistivity techniques in the study of floods,as it provides valuable insights into flood behaviour,and subsurface dynamics.

Exploration on electrical resistance tomography in characterizing the slurry spatial distribution in cemented granular materials

This study investigated the application of electrical resistance tomography(ERT)in characterizing the slurry spatial distribution in cemented granular materials(CGMs).For CGM formed by self-flow grouting,the voids in the accumulation are only partially filled and the bond strength is often limited,which results in difficulty in obtaining in situ samples for quality evaluation.Therefore,it is usually infeasible to evaluate the grouting effect or monitor the slurry spatial distribution by a mechanical method.In this research,the process of grouting cement paste into high alumina ceramic beads(HACB)accumulation is reliably monitored with ERT.It shows that ERT results can be used to calculate the cement paste volume in the HACB accumulation,based on calibrating the saturation exponent n in Archie’s law.The results support the feasibility of ERT as an imaging tool in CGM characterization and may provide guidance for engineering applications in the future.

Archaeological investigation by geotomo-graphy: structure of the foundation of Yingxian timber pagoda

It is significant to take a non-destructive inspection, one of advanced techniques, for detecting the internal structure and the present status of ancient cultural relics. The results detected by geotomography in Yingxian timber pagoda, Shanxi Province, are presented in this paper. The embankment in the stepped foundation shows a three circular structure in horizontal: the circular platform core is hard, homogenous and unharmed, out of which there are some radial collapsed grooves. The middle circle with a thickness of 2 to 4 m is a compacted layer and its loading capacity decreases then. The outer protective layer has a larger porosity and a weak loading capacity. An abnormal body is found out in the core, which has a circular shape and a reverse high-absorption coefficient in the shallow part, but appears a long-band shape and a low-absorption coefficient in the deep part. It might be a disturbance caused by artificial activities: the shallow part is probably a channel filled with loosen soil and the deep part is a hidden cave. It is found that the foundation of the courtyard is homogenous and integrated. Two soft and weakened areas in the north are related to the long-term run-off and drainage of groundwater. The inclination of the timber pagoda to the northwest and northeast relates to several factors, such as the inherited subsidence of the northern foundation, the lower loading capacity of the outer stepped foundation, seismic activity and timber deformation.No.2 FENG R.et al.: ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION BY GEOTOMOGRAPHY