displaced by the probe during insertion enters the body of

PRESSURE METER TEST

instrument, reducing the disturbance to the surrounding
Pressure Meter test soil.
- It is an in situ test developed in 1956
PROCEDURE OF PRESSUREMETER TEST ON SOIL
- It was developed by Louis Menard
PARTS OF THE PRESSURE METER
1. Drilling Borehole
1. PROBE
- The Menard’s pressuremeter is not used to drill the
- is inserted into the borehole and is supported at test depth.
borehole. To drill a borehole separate drilling equipment is
- It is an inflatable flexible membrane which applies even
used and preferably which causes least disturbance to the
pressure to the walls of the borehole as it expands. As the
soil while drilling. The diameter of the borehole should be
pressure increases and the membrane expands, the walls
in between 1.03 times to 1.20 times the diameter of the
of the borehole begin to deform.
probe.
➢ Parts of a Probe
2. Positioning of Probe in Borehole
Measuring Cell or middle cell - After drilling the hole, the probe is lowered down to the
- main cell which is filled with water during test. required elevation using cables. The probe should be
Guard Cell lowered slowly without disturbing the surrounding soil
- at the top and bottom of measuring cell are known
as guard cells which protects the main cell from the
and the apparatus itself. After reached desired elevation,
end effects caused by finite length of cable. the probe is fixed using clamping device.
2. TUBING 3. Conducting Pressuremeter Test on Soil
3. CONTROL UNIT - After the positioning of probe, now it’s time to fill the cells
- it is set up near the borehole and is connected to tubing by of probe with water and gas. This action is done by using
hollow cables to control the pressure in the cells by pumping
control unit of the pressuremeter. The valves of the
water and gas as well as to read the results of the test.
control unit are opened which admits water into the
measuring cell and gas into the guard cells respectively.
MAIN TYPES OF PRESSURE METER Equal pressure is maintained in both the measuring and
guard cells.
1. The borehole pressure meter - The instrument is inserted
4. Results of Pressuremeter Test
into a performed hole.
- The volume of water used for each increment of the
2. The self-boring pressure meter - The instrument is self-
probe volume is taken on x- axis and the pressure value
bored into the ground with the purpose of minimizing the
obtained for each increment is taken on y-axis. The curve
sol disturbance caused by insertion.
obtained may contain some errors. To overcome this, the
3. Displacement pressure meters - The instrument is
pressuremeter should be calibrated for pressure loss,
pushed into the ground from base of a borehole. The soil
 volume loss and hydrostatic pressure head before it is
used in the design.
THE APPLICATION OF PRESSURE CAN BE DONE BY ANY OF THE
TWO METHODS
a. Equivalent pressure increment method
- in which certain amount of time (generally one minute)
and pressure increment value is fixed for that time. After
the completion of time, the volume change is noted.
Similarly, same pressure increments for the next one
minute of time is applied and volume change is noted. This
process is repeated until limited pressure is reached. In
general, ten equal pressure increments for 10 minutes of
time are enough to reach the pressure limit.
b. Equivalent volume increment method
- in this method the probe volume is increased by 5% for
each increment. After each increment the probe is held
constant for 30 seconds. After every 30 seconds the
pressure readings are noted.
PROBE SECTION