Soil Electrical and Geotechnical Property Measurements: A Case Study of Oleh, Delta State, Nigeria

¹Ebisine E. E. & ^1*Okieke U.J.
Department of Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Delta State, Nigeria
*corresponding author: okiekeufuoma@gmail.com

Abstract

Adequate knowledge of the soil’s engineering properties is a crucial factor to be considered during the design and development of engineering structures. Some geotechnical and electrical properties (particle size gradation, and soil electrical resistance and resistivity) of an undisturbed superficial soil deposit, within an undeveloped area of Isoko region of Nigeria were measured in accordance with standard procedures. The soil’s sieve analysis results depicted that the soil contains moderate amount of fines, which range from 13.0 % – 20.1%. It was also noted that the soil’s electrical resistance at Locations A, B, C, D and E declined from 19.82 Ω – 7.23 Ω,  13.23 Ω – 5.38 Ω, 9.2  Ω – 4.04 Ω, 7.21 Ω – 3.92 Ω, and 5.93 Ω – 2.98 Ω respectively, as the probe distance increased from 3 m to 15 m laterally. Additionally, the electrical resistivity result indicated that at Locations A, B, C, D and E, the resistivity inclined from 622.74 – 908.67 Ωm, 415.69 – 676.16 Ωm, 290.01 – 505.75 Ωm, 226.54 – 492.67 Ωm, and 186.32 – 374.53 Ωm, as the probes’ lateral distance increased from 3 m to 15 m. Spatially, it was observed that the centre part of the studied area had the lowest resistivity, but the highest amount of fine-grained soil particles. Results acquired from this study will be useful during the design of electrical earthing system for structures to be built within the area.

Keywords: Earthing system, soil particle size, soil resistivity, spatial distribution.