Can Liquefaction Be Repeated? An Electrical Resistivity Study at South Palu, Indonesia

Soni Satiawan; Dhani Ahmad Hadad; Donar Saragih

Authors

Soni Satiawan Geophysical Enginnering Program, Universitas Pertamina, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Dhani Ahmad Hadad Geophysical Enginnering Program, Universitas Pertamina, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Donar Saragih PT. Abhinaya Mappindo Bumitala, Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia

Keywords:

Recurrence, Liquefaction, high-resistivity intrusion, ResIPy

Abstract

The recurrence of liquefaction remains a significant concern, prompting a resistivity study in South Palu to investigate subsurface condition associated with this phenomenon. A total of eight lines 2D resistivity lines with dipole-dipole configuration and 10m electrode spacing were acquired in the South Palu subdistrict, covering a cumulative length of 1470m. All stages of data processing and modelling were conducted using a regularized inversion algorithm implemented in the Phyton-based ResIPy software. The inversion results revealed three distinct resistivity layers, low-resistivity ranging from 4.1 – 78.5 ohm.m, interpreted as low permeability a sandy shale or clay rich soil with saturated clay layer extending to a depth of approximately 10m, an underlying high-resistivity layer ranging from 78.6 - 201.4 ohm.m, interpreted as a saturated sand or gravel layer with ± 10m of thickness and associated as a good aquifer and the deep layer at ±20 m depth with highest resistivity (> 200 ohm.m) which is interpreted as compacted sand or hard soil and acted as the base soil in this study area. The evidence of sand intrusion features, upward – moderate to high resistivity intrusions, potentially associated with liquefaction events, were observed in six of resistivity sections. These are indicated by the upward penetration of moderate to high-resistivity value through the low-resistivity layer, towards the surface. Additionally, the recurrence of liquefaction is still conceivable since the existence of ±10m of layer-2 which is interpreted as the most potential liquefiable layer and the thickness of low resistivity of layer-1 and in study area, particularly if subjected to strong earthquake motion.

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