Application of the Electrical Resistivity Method for Site Investigation in University of Anbar, Ar-Ramadi City, Western Iraq

Abstract

The 2D resistivity imaging technique was applied in an engineering study for the investigation of subsurface weakness zones within University of Anbar, western Iraq. The survey was carried out using Dipole-dipole array with an n-factor of 6 and a-spacing values of 2 m and 5 m. The inverse models of the 2D electrical imaging clearly show the resistivity contrast between the anomalous parts of the weakness zones and the background resistivity distribution. The thickness and shape of the subsurface weakness zones were well defined from the 2D imaging using Dipole-dipole array of 2 m a-spacing. The thickness of the weakness zone ranges between 9.5 m to 11.5 m. Whereas the Dipole-dipole array with a-spacing of 5 m and n-factor of 6 allocated the geoelectrical stratigraphic layers sequence in low-accuracy of weakness zones, but deeper than the inverse model of 2 m a-spacing. This survey was made to explain the correlation between the weakness zone and the deeper layers in the study area. It points out that the deeper layers were not affected in the weakness zones. The inverse model was produced using the Standard Least-Squares Inversion Method and the Robust Inversion Model Constraints Method. The first method had a gradational boundary of the weakness zones and the second had sharper and straighter boundaries of fractures and voids within the weakness zones.