The pressuremeter holding test, its analysis and similarity to the piezocone dissipation test

Abstract

The pressuremeter holding test may be used to determine the consolidation characteristics of clays and, once certain other parameters are known, the permeability. These other parameters, the shear strength and modulus, may be ascertained from the expansion part of the test. Various methods of analysis have been proposed in the past, and they are compared here. The similarities to the piezocone dissipation test are explained, and the analysis methods are compared. A new method of analysis is described, using an Excel spreadsheet that simulates the pressures and flows around a cylindrical object.