This part of ISO 22476 specifies the equipment requirements, execution of and reporting on the Ménard pressuremeter test.
NOTE 1 This part of ISO 22476 fulfils the requirements for the Ménard pressurermeter test, as part of the geotechnical investigation and testing according to EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2.
This part of ISO 22476 describes the procedure for conducting a Ménard pressuremeter test in natural soils, treated or untreated fills and in weak rocks, either on land or off-shore.
The pressuremeter test results of this part of ISO 22476 are suited to a quantitative determination of ground strength and deformation parameters. They may yield lithological information. They can also be combined with direct investigation (e.g. sampling according to ISO 22475-1) or compared with other in situ tests (see EN 1997- 2:2007, 2.4.1.4(2) P, 4.1 (1) P and 4.2.3(2) P).
The Ménard pressuremeter test is performed by the radial expansion of a tricell probe placed in the ground (see Figure 1). During the injection of the liquid volume in the probe, the inflation of the three cells first brings the outer cover of the probe into contact with the pocket wall and then presses on them resulting in a soil displacement. Pressure applied to and the associated volume expansion of the probe are measured and recorded so as to obtain the stress-strain relationship of the soil as tested.
Together with results of investigations with ISO 22475-1 being available, or at least with identification and description of the ground according to ISO 14688-1 and ISO 14689-1 obtained during the pressuremeter test operations, the test results of this part of ISO 22476 are suited to the quantitative determination of a ground profile, including
The Ménard EM modulus,
The Ménard limit pressure pLM and
The Ménard creep pressure pfM.
This part of ISO 22476 refers to a probe historically described as the 60 mm G type probe. This part of ISO 22476 applies to test depths limited to 50 m and test pressure limited to 5 MPa.
NOTE 2 Ménard pressuremeter tests are carried out with other probe diameters and pocket dimensions such as shown below.
Two alternative methods of measurement are provided as follows.
- Procedure A: data are recorded manually.
- Procedure B: data are recorded automatically.