ELECTRICAL-RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENTS FOR EVALUATING COMPACTED-SOIL LINERS

Theoretical relationships suggest that the hydraulic conductivity of compacted soils can be evaluated with electrical resistivity measurements. On the material scale, high resistivity may be indicative of low molding water content, high air-filled porosity, or high sand or gravel content. On the liner scale, resistivity measurements may be useful for identifying desiccation cracking or poor interlift bonding. Methods exist for measuring the resistivity of compacted soils in the laboratory and on field liners. Further evaluation is warranted to fully assess the utility of resistivity measurements for evaluating soil liners.