Strain-rate effects in self-boring pressuremeter tests in clay

A method is proposed for assessing the effect of strain rate on pressuremeter test results in clay. The approach takes into account the strain rate used to expand the cavity and its variation within the soil mass, both of which influence the value of the undrained shear strength deduced from the pressuremeter expansion curve. The method is applied to quantify strain-rate effects in idealized materials and in model pressuremeter test results. The pressuremeter-deduced stress–strain curve is also used to predict the total pressure – radial strain relationship observed in one of the model tests.Key words: pressuremeter test, clays, strain rate, idealized materials, model tests.