Stress–Strain–Electrical Evolution Properties and Damage-Evolution Equation of Lateritic Soil Under Uniaxial Compression

Abstract Finding an internal variable that characterizes the effects of change in the mesoscopic structure of soil and can be nondestructively measured simultaneously with stress and strain during the entire compressive process is an intriguing problem for geotechnical engineers and researchers. In this study, the geoelectrical resistivity technique, combined with a mechanical test, was applied to explore the stress–strain–electrical evolution properties of lateritic soil during the entire process of uniaxial compression. Complete testing data were obtained for the stress–strain and resistivity–strain curves. Results show that both curves for each specimen were identified by six distinct stages. The effects of initial water content and dry density were analyzed and indicated that soil failure patterns and initial electrical resistivity are significantly influenced by the initial water content. The initial electrical resistivity of lateritic soil decreases when the dry density increases. Electrical resistivity was regarded as an internal variable to characterize information on damage change. Damage-evolution equations were proposed; these equations include three variables, namely, stress, strain, and electrical resistance, as well as data-fitting parameters (c, d and β).