Menard Pressuremeter

The pressuremeter test is an in-situ testing method used to achieve a quick measure of the in-situ stress-strain relationship of
the soil. In principle, the pressuremeter test is performed by applying pressure to the sidewalls of a borehole and observing the
corresponding deformation.

The pressuremeter consists of two parts, the read-out unit which rests on the ground surface, and the probe that is inserted into
the borehole (ground). The original Ménard-type pressuremeter was designed to be lowered into a performed hole and to apply
uniform pressure to the borehole walls by means of infl atable fl exible membrane.

As the pressure increases, the borehole walls deform. The pressure is held constant for a given period and the increase in volume
required for maintaining the constant pressure is recorded. A load-deformation diagram and soil characteristics can be deduced by
measurement of the applied pressure and change in the volume of the expanding membrane.