ABSTRACT
It is assumed that the probe is ‘wished’ into place causing no change to the properties of the ground, that the initial pressure acting on the probe is equal to the in situ stress, that the ground contains no discontinuities and that the material is uniform over the length of the expanding section when analysing pressuremeter tests. This is not the case, as all pressuremeters disturb the ground to some extent during installation and the ground is spatially variable. A review of the effects that installation, probe geometry and ground properties have upon the derived parameters suggests that their influence can be significant. These facts should be taken into account when interpreting a test but, given the level of uncertainty of the spatial variation of the composition and properties of the ground after a probe is installed, it is better to use the simple models to determine the ground properties or determine design parameters directly.
