THE USE OF A SELF-BORING PRESSUREMETER TO DETERMINE THE UNDRAINED PROPERTIES OF CLAYS

This article describes the development of a self-boring pressuremeter capable of being inserted into the ground in such a way that the ground suffers minimal disturbance. Once inserted, pressuremeter tests can be performed on virtually undistrubed soil. It is possible to obtain a number of soil parameters from the results of these tests. A detailed description of the instrument and its operation is included as well as an analysis of the degree of distrubance during insertion, an interpretation of the undrained expansion test, a comparison of results from still and soft clays with results of other tests. The major advantages of this method of testing soils include the following: It is now possible to perform tests on virtually undisturbed soil; it is possible to obtain a number of parameters from one test; parameters can be derived from tests results using well-developed theories of cavity expansion without having to use empirical correlations; this method of testing produces much less scattered data than other methods; and, it is now possible to obtain results very quickly when necessary. The disadvantages of this method include the following: The instrument will not penetrate gravel, boulder clay, or claystones; there is no control of the total or effective stresses path; in order to reduce drainage effects, undrained tests must be performed at high rates of strain lastly, the instrument is considered highly complex by present-day standards.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00174653
• Corporate Authors:

  Foundation Publications Limited

  7 Ongar Road
  Brentwood CM15 9AU, Essex,   England 
• Authors:
  • Windle, D
  • Wroth, C P
• Publication Date: 1977-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 37-46
• Serial:
  • GROUND ENGINEERING
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: EMAP CONSTRUCT LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0017-4653

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Boring; Clay; Drainage; Expansion; Pressure gages; Strain (Mechanics); Stresses; Tunneling machines; Undisturbed samples; Undrained strength
• Uncontrolled Terms: Parameters
• Old TRIS Terms: Disturbances; Strains; Undrained properties
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00170432
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 12 1978 12:00AM