Validation of a new in-situ test, the Geomechameter

Jacques Monnet
2012 La houille blanche  
A new in situ testing apparatus, the Geomechameter, has been designed and built. It is an evolution of the pressuremeter, using the forces generated by water flow around the measurement probe. The hydraulic flow allows to control the level of the vertical stress at the test level. The influence of this stress is taken into account in the interpretation of the test results. Originally designed for the soil mechanical characteristics characterization, the apparatus was modified for the erosion
more » ... surement through the turbidity of the extracted water flow. This new version of the 2004 apparatus is equipped with numerical gauge for pressure and radial displacement and video camera for turbidity measurement. One of its interest is the measurement of suffusion sensitivity into the dikes and embankments, where the Jet Erosion Test measures only at the surface. Hostun thin sand was chosen as a material to undergo the experimental study in laboratory. Isère loam was chosen to experiment the second model of this in situ apparatus. Results show the influence of the hydraulic stream flow on the expansion curves and the possibility of erosion detection.
doi:10.1051/lhb/2012032 fatcat:kqcxvtkyprdariqyte5n5ifway