Development of Soil Moisture Content and Soil Matric Suction Model Based on Field Instrumentation and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Highway Slopes Constructed on High Expansive Clay Soil

In highway slopes (HWS) constructed on high expansive clay soil (HECS), in situ moisture variation is an environmentally driven variable that can significantly impact the safety of the constructed soil. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) is a non-destructive method with a considerable potential fo...

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Main Authors: Masoud Nobahar, Rakesh Salunke, Mohammad Sadik Khan, Farshad Amini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Geotechnics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7094/2/3/33
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author Masoud Nobahar
Rakesh Salunke
Mohammad Sadik Khan
Farshad Amini
author_facet Masoud Nobahar
Rakesh Salunke
Mohammad Sadik Khan
Farshad Amini
author_sort Masoud Nobahar
collection DOAJ
description In highway slopes (HWS) constructed on high expansive clay soil (HECS), in situ moisture variation is an environmentally driven variable that can significantly impact the safety of the constructed soil. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) is a non-destructive method with a considerable potential for subsurface soil moisture mapping, which can be correlated with volumetric soil moisture content (VSMC) and soil matric suction (SMS) of HECS to remarkably enhance the evaluation of the performance of the HWS. However, limited datasets are available to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of the available correlative field-based models for the HECS under various field conditions. The objective of the current study is to develop a field-based model of VSMC and SMS using real-time field monitoring and ERI data. Six HWS located in the Jackson metro area in Mississippi (MS), USA were considered as reference slopes in this study. Comprehensive field instrumentation was executed at the six HWS to monitor the VSMC, SMS and rainfall intensity. The sensors were installed at the crest, middle and toe of the slope. The 2D ERI test was conducted using a dipole–dipole array with multiple electrodes at 5 ft (1.5 m) spacing. The ERI survey was conducted at the crest and middle of the six HWS to image the continuous soil subsurface profile in terms of moisture variation. The developed models indicated a good agreement between instrumented and ERI data. The developed models will facilitate the estimation of VSMC and SMS variations and aid in performance monitoring of the HWS built on HECS such as Yazoo clay.
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spelling doaj.art-d959efa50e474adeb637c32465572e232023-11-23T16:27:26ZengMDPI AGGeotechnics2673-70942022-08-012367170510.3390/geotechnics2030033Development of Soil Moisture Content and Soil Matric Suction Model Based on Field Instrumentation and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Highway Slopes Constructed on High Expansive Clay SoilMasoud Nobahar0Rakesh Salunke1Mohammad Sadik Khan2Farshad Amini3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, 1400 J.R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 17068, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, 1400 J.R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 17068, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, 1400 J.R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 17068, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jackson State University, 1400 J.R. Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 17068, USAIn highway slopes (HWS) constructed on high expansive clay soil (HECS), in situ moisture variation is an environmentally driven variable that can significantly impact the safety of the constructed soil. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) is a non-destructive method with a considerable potential for subsurface soil moisture mapping, which can be correlated with volumetric soil moisture content (VSMC) and soil matric suction (SMS) of HECS to remarkably enhance the evaluation of the performance of the HWS. However, limited datasets are available to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of the available correlative field-based models for the HECS under various field conditions. The objective of the current study is to develop a field-based model of VSMC and SMS using real-time field monitoring and ERI data. Six HWS located in the Jackson metro area in Mississippi (MS), USA were considered as reference slopes in this study. Comprehensive field instrumentation was executed at the six HWS to monitor the VSMC, SMS and rainfall intensity. The sensors were installed at the crest, middle and toe of the slope. The 2D ERI test was conducted using a dipole–dipole array with multiple electrodes at 5 ft (1.5 m) spacing. The ERI survey was conducted at the crest and middle of the six HWS to image the continuous soil subsurface profile in terms of moisture variation. The developed models indicated a good agreement between instrumented and ERI data. The developed models will facilitate the estimation of VSMC and SMS variations and aid in performance monitoring of the HWS built on HECS such as Yazoo clay.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7094/2/3/33highway slopeexpansive clayfield instrumentationelectrical resistivity imaging
spellingShingle Masoud Nobahar
Rakesh Salunke
Mohammad Sadik Khan
Farshad Amini
Development of Soil Moisture Content and Soil Matric Suction Model Based on Field Instrumentation and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Highway Slopes Constructed on High Expansive Clay Soil
Geotechnics
highway slope
expansive clay
field instrumentation
electrical resistivity imaging
title Development of Soil Moisture Content and Soil Matric Suction Model Based on Field Instrumentation and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Highway Slopes Constructed on High Expansive Clay Soil
title_full Development of Soil Moisture Content and Soil Matric Suction Model Based on Field Instrumentation and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Highway Slopes Constructed on High Expansive Clay Soil
title_fullStr Development of Soil Moisture Content and Soil Matric Suction Model Based on Field Instrumentation and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Highway Slopes Constructed on High Expansive Clay Soil
title_full_unstemmed Development of Soil Moisture Content and Soil Matric Suction Model Based on Field Instrumentation and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Highway Slopes Constructed on High Expansive Clay Soil
title_short Development of Soil Moisture Content and Soil Matric Suction Model Based on Field Instrumentation and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) for Highway Slopes Constructed on High Expansive Clay Soil
title_sort development of soil moisture content and soil matric suction model based on field instrumentation and electrical resistivity imaging eri for highway slopes constructed on high expansive clay soil
topic highway slope
expansive clay
field instrumentation
electrical resistivity imaging
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7094/2/3/33
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