Effects of test procedure on flat dilatometer test (DMT) results in intermediate soils

Abstract

The evaluation of rate effects on the flat dilatometer test (DMT) can best be developed with some knowledge of the excess pore pressures generated during penetration, dissipation, and subsequent membrane expansion. While research that includes pore pressure measurements in the DMT has documented drainage conditions in clean sand and soft clay, further studies are required to determine the drainage conditions during the DMT in intermediate permeability soils, such as silts. For that purpose, a simple and inexpensive research device has been developed for monitoring pore pressures at the center of the DMT blade. Data using both a standard DMT and the modified research DMT from various tests in sand, silt, and clay have been compared in a space that correlates dimensionless velocity to degree of drainage. In this space, it is possible to evaluate whether partial drainage is taking place. Measurements indicate that the DMT is essentially undrained in soft clay and dominated by penetration pore pressures, is drained in clean sand and is partially drained in intermediate permeability soils, such as silt. A method is suggested to identify soils where partial drainage may influence the standard DMT results.