ABSTRACT
Electrical Resistivity of soils can be important in terms of evaluating the corrosion potential of soil, estimating Water Content and other soil characteristics and cathodic protection of buried structures. Electrical Resistivity is a measure of the ease at which electricity will flow through a material and is based on Ohm’s Law, which states that the current between two points of a conducting material is proportional to the voltage.
There are several different methods that can be used to determine Electrical Resistivity, all of which use the same basic principle. The procedures described in this chapter generally follow the recommended procedures given in ASTM G57 and G187. A number of state highway departments have developed test procedures for determining Electrical Resistivity (e.g., Florida, Louisiana) and essentially follow the procedures described in ASTM G57. Additionally, British Standard BS 1377-3 10 describes three methods for determining Electrical Resistivity in the laboratory which are all consistent with ASTM G57.
