Finite Strain Analysis of Pressuremeter Test

Abstract

In this work, the plane strain pressuremeter test is examined using a finite strain elasto-plastic analysis. The pressure-meter expansion is analyzed as a finite strain problem using a Lagrangian formulation employing the ``cap model'' of DiMaggio and Sandler. The analysis is performed by modeling the pressure-meter expansion as a cavity expansion of a segment of the walls of an existing cylindrical cavity. The solution does not suffer any major inconsistencies and its success depends mainly on the use of the appropriate constitutive equation. Therefore, a more reliable analysis can be performed and more accurate soil parameters can be obtained. It is the aim of this work to evaluate the importance of some of the most commonly made assumptions in the analysis of the results of the pressuremeter test.