<p><p><strong>Reference(s):</strong></p><p><em>Dumas and Beaton (1992)<br></em><em>Elias et al. (2006a)<br></em><em>Lukas (1986)<br></em><em>Lukas (1995)<br></em><em>Mitchell (1981b)<br></em><em>Schaefer et al. (1997)</em></p><p><strong>Method Summary<br></strong>Pressuremeter tests can be performed both before and after compaction to determine relative changes in soil properties. When compaction has been completed, the pressuremeter tests should not be performed until any excess pore water pressures have dissipated. As post-compaction aging effects may be significant in many soils, a minimum time period between the end of compaction and the start of CPT testing should be specified.</p><p><strong>Accuracy and Precision<br></strong>Pressuremeter tests are time consuming and expensive compared to SPT and CPT tests. The analysis of test results can be difficult and correlations with properties are sometimes uncertain. However, they measure lateral earth pressure and elastic modulus whereas SPT and CPT results would require correlations for this.</p><p><strong>Adequacy of Coverage<br></strong>Pressuremeter tests can be used to get an accurate picture of the entire subsurface profile. However, the number of tests required to fully evaluate the results of DDC in a large area would be excessive for a typical pressuremeter testing program. Pressuremeter tests can be used at varying depths to characterize different soil strata.</p><p><strong>Implementation Requirements<br></strong>Pressuremeter tests are specialized geotechnical tests that are not routinely done by most firms.</p><p><strong>General Comments<br></strong>Pressuremeter tests can be used in any deep dynamic compaction program. They may be useful in determining whether adequate bearing capacities have been achieved or if potential settlements have been reduced. Pressuremeter tests have also proven effective in analyzing soils with several layers where the degree of improvement may change from layer to layer.</p></p>