1. Pressuremeters and other In Situ Testing Equipment
Presented by : Louis Marcil, Eng.
Roctest Webinar April 2012

2. Presentation Overview
INTRODUCTION
1. Pressuremeters (PMT) 1.1 Description of the Test
1.2 Description of the Equipment (Types of Pressuremeters)
1.3 Main Applications
1.4 Advantages and Limitations
2. Other In Situ Test Equipment
2.1 Vane Testers
2.1 Cone Penetration Test Equipment (CPT)
CONCLUSION

3. Rhomboidal ‘bent’ Pyramid, Egypt
INTRODUCTION
IN SITU TESTING
Proper characterization of mechanical properties of the ground onto which structures are to be built has a great importance.
Pyramid Initial Slope
Rhomboidal ‘bent’ Pyramid, Egypt

4. INTRODUCTION IN SITU TESTING Means for characterizing the ground:
Laboratory Testing
In Situ Testing
- Penetration Resistance Measurement (SPT, CPT)
- In Situ Permeability Tests (Packer Test, Rising Head Test...)
- Strength and compressibility testing (PMT, Vane Testing, Plate load tests, Flat Dilatometer…)

5. 1 Pressuremeters
PMT = An in situ loading test executed by radial expansion of a cylindrical cavity. The stresses are exerted on the walls of a borehole by mean of a pressurized fluid acting on one inflatable membrane.

6. 1.1 Test Description

7. TYPICAL PRESSUREMETER CURVE
1.1 Test Description
TYPICAL PRESSUREMETER CURVE
Progressive loading in steps. Waiting period required at every step for stabilization before recording pressure and radial expansion
Unload-loading cycle
Test duration : 10 min
Standards: ASTM NF P , EN_ISO_

8. 1.1 Test Description General Testing Procedure
Tests executed at various depths in the same borehole
Common spacings : 1 to 3 m.
Borehole cannot be done in one pass
Results are presented for each elevation giving general profile of the soil.

9. 1.1 Test Description Pressuremeter modulus (E) Limit pressure (Pl)
Main Parameters:
Pressuremeter modulus (E) .
Limit pressure (Pl)
Where:
- R : Poisson's ratio of the soil/rock
- Vm : the volume of the cavity at mid-point of the testing zone
: the variation of volume of the cavity due to the variation of the applied pressure

10. 1.1 Test Description
The Making of the Borehole = Critical to make successful tests ! ! !
Borehole = Adequate if:
1. Undisturbed Soil
2. Borehole of Proper Diameter
3. Smooth wall borehole

11. 1.1 Test Description
Various drilling methods suggested in Standards as per type of soils.
Use of rotary drilling with axial injection (towards hole bottom) of mud is applicable in most cases. Slotted casing in large-gravels soils.
Ideally: Roller bit for silt, sand, and gravel. 2 7/8 in. to 3 inches. Three-wing bit for clayey soils.
Diameter of rods must be one or two sizes smaller than diameter of bit to allow good flow up of cuttings
Do not ram the bit up and down as this will result in an oversized hole
Popular method : 3-in hollow auger for first portion of the borehole + use of rotary bit in the testing zone only
Go slowly:
Injection pressure: < 500 kPa with borehole full of mud
Bit rotation: < 60 rpm 
Flow : < 15 liters per minute 
Bit pressure: < 200 kPa (100 kg in a 76 mm borehole) 
Typical advance rate: 15 to 25 cm/minute 

12. 1.2 The Equipment VARIOUS TYPES OF PRESSUREMETERS:
Pre-Boring vs Self-Boring Pressuremeters
Volume Variations vs Direct Radial Strain Measurements
Mono-cellular vs Tri-cellular Probes
Diameter of the Probe : 33 mm to 95 mm
Type of Loading: Pneumatic vs Hydraulic
Reading Mode: Manually vs Automatically
Working Capacity: 4,000 kPa to 30,000 kPa
Various Sensitivities

13. 1.2 The Equipment Soil Pressuremeters: Texam Pressuremeter
(Volumetric, hydraulic, mono-cellular probe
Menard Pressuremeter
(Volumetric, pneumatic, tri-cellular probe)
Trimods Pressuremeter
(Radial expansion measurement,
hydraulic, mono-cellular probe)

14. 1.2 The Equipment Rock Pressuremeters: Model PROBEX
Capacity pressure: kPa (3500 psi)
Hydraulically loaded
Fiberglass-reinforced polyurethane membrane
Capacity modulus: 0.01 to 30 GPa approx.
Testing depth to (date): 300 meters

15. 1.2 The Equipment Rock Pressuremeter / Borehole Dilatometer: Model DMP
Measures radial deformations by mean of 3 LVDT disposed at 120 °
Capacity pressure: kPa
For used in soft to moderately hard rock (Maximum modulus of 50 GPa)

16. 1.2 The Equipment Self-Boring Pressuremeters:
Interesting tool because minimizes remolding
Confined to soils with few gravels
BOREMAC Pressuremeter
(volumetric, hydraulic, mono-cellular probe)

17. 1.3 Main Applications Shallow foundations Laterally loaded piles
Vertically loaded piles
Compaction control
Design of pavement
Of less use for slope stability problems and embankments

18. 1.3 Main Applications
Semi-empirical methods vs. methods based on the theory of elasticity
Semi-empirical method:
1) Bearing Capacity = K x Pl
The factor of proportionality K is function to:
- Relative depth
- Shape of the foundation
- Type of ground

19. 1.3 Main Applications 2) Settlement : - S is the settlement
Ref: Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual
- S is the settlement
- EM is the pressuremeter modulus.
- qa is the allowable bearing capacity
- λ2 and λ3 are the coefficients of shape of footing, (L/B)
- B is the width of the footing
- αp is a coefficient of structure (function to type of soils and E/Pl)

20. 1.3 Main Applications
3) Lateral Deflection of laterally-loaded structures
P-Y Curve:
Various Methods
Robertson et al.
Example :
VGS Reduction of Rock Pressuremeter Tests
Design P-Y Curves
54-inch Diameter Rock Socket
(Courtesy: Failmezger, In Situ Soil Testing, VA)

21. 1.3 Main Applications Design of High Rise Buildings Petronas Towers
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
AT&T Tower
(Chicago, USA)

22. 1.4 Advantages and Limitations
Well-trained operator is required for ensuring:
Making a good borehole
Taking care not to burst too many membranes
Soils with large gravels are difficult to test. A slotted casing might be required.

23. 1.4 Advantages and Limitations
Versatile: Can be performed in most types of soils and soft rocks
Gives an in situ stress strain curve
The loading sequence can be adapted according to the application (long or rapid loading, cyclic loading)
Close analogy with laterally-loaded piles
Validity of the test can be controlled from the shape of the curve.

24. 2. Other In Situ Testing Equipment
Various types of in situ tests can be performed:
Penetration Test (SPT, CPT), Vane Test, Plate Loading Test, Flat Dilatometer Test, Packer Test, Compaction Control Test, etc.

25. 2.1 Vane Shear Tester For cohesive soils only Test Description
Quick and Easy
Used either for designing of shallow or deep foundations

26. Recording sheets from the Model M-1000 Vane Tester
2.1 Vane Shear Tester
Su = K (as - af) x C
Where:
Su = the undrained shear strength in kg/cm2
C = vane form constant in 10-2 x cm-3
K = calibration constant for the torque recording head in kg m / cm
as = distance in cm between the zero torque reference line to the peak of the curve
af = distance in cm between the zero torque reference line and the circular arc scribed during the first 15 degrees of rotation (corresponds to rod friction)
Recording sheets from the Model M-1000 Vane Tester

27. 2.2 Cone Penetration Test Dynamic Cone Penetration Test:
Procedure: Record number of blow counts required for trusting a conical point into the ground. Size and shape of the point, weight, and the mass falling distance are standardized.
Used for soil classification and for compaction control.
Model PEM-1 Cone
Dynamic Penetrometer

28. 2.2 Cone Penetration Test 2 1 4 3 Static Cone Penetration Test (CPT) :
The most common penetration test.
Pushed into the ground.
Recording of: tip resistance, friction resistance, pore pressure and others.
Models:
Handsounding Cone Penetrometer (1)
Mechanical Cone (2)
Mechanical Friction Cone (3)
Electric Cones (4) 2 1 4 3

29. 2.2 Cone Penetration Test Static Cone Penetration Test (CPT) :
Interpretation and use of results:
Soil Classifications using cone and friction resistance.
Determination of various parameters from empirical correlations: For instance:
- Stiffness and relative density in cohesionless soils Undrained Shear Strength in cohesive soils.

30. CONCLUSION Roctest has specialized in pressuremeters
PMT not a routine testing method
Required well-trained operator
Special attention must be given for the making of the borehole
PMTproves to be a useful tool for applications :
1) Such as for the laterally loaded foundations, and high rise buildings
2) Where undisturbed samples cannot be obtained, and where other conventional tests cannot be done (rock & weakly cemented material)
3) On large projects where it is justified to put efforts to get better information on the soil/rock

31. Thank you ! Questions ?
(Courtesy of
ODOT)