Displacement of Piles from Pressuremeter Test Results – A Summary of French Research and Practice

Abstract

This paper presents the ‘load-transfer functions’ t-z and p-y methods for determining the axial and lateral displacements of single piles. They are based on the results of pressuremeter tests. The methods from the results of the Ménard pre-borehole pressuremeter (MPM) and the self-boring pressuremeter tests (PAF, for ‘Pressiomètre AutoForeur’ in French) are described. Especially, the t-z and p-y methods derived from the MPM test results are commonly used in French practice. For both t-z and p-y curves, some theoretical background (usually FEM calculations in linear elasticity) is given. The results of the t-z and p-y analyses are compared to the measurements from loading tests on full scale piles. A proposal concerning “barrettes” is also presented.