A pressure meter is an on-site testing device used to measure the mechanical properties of soil or rock. The Menard Field Pressuremeter measures the deformation response of soil or rock mass by applying radial pressure to the borehole wall, in order to evaluate its stress-strain relationship, strength parameters, and deformation characteristics.
| Item | Parameter | Model | ||||
| PY-3 | PY-4 | PY-5 | ||||
| 1 | Pressuremeter | Dia. with metal shield | Ø 74mm | |||
| Measure chamber length | 250mm | |||||
| Pressuremeter length | 800mm | |||||
| 2 | Measuring precision | Min. reading of pressure gauge | 0.005Mpa | |||
| Volume meter effective range | 400mm | |||||
| Comprehensive error | ≤ ±1% | |||||
| Measurements | Electrical measurement and visual | |||||
| 3 | Others | Max. Pressure | 2.5Mpa | 4.0Mpa | 5.5Mpa | |
| Size | 830 × 360 × 220mm | |||||
| Weight | 28kg | |||||
| Range | Clay, silt and other formations | Hard clay, silt, sand and other formations | Clay, silt, sand, weathered rock, soft rock strata | |||
It is an in-situ testing instrument designed to evaluate the mechanical properties and stress-strain characteristics of soil or rock mass. By expanding a probe inside a borehole, it applies radial pressure to analyze deformation response.
The pressuremeter provides direct in-situ parameters (such as pressuremeter modulus and limit pressure) that reduce sampling errors compared to traditional lab tests. This data is directly applicable to foundation bearing capacity and settlement design.
The system consists of an expandable probe, a high-precision pressure control system, a dedicated data collection system, and connecting cables/devices to transmit data and pressure readings between the probe and surface equipment.
The PY-4 model (up to 4.0 Mpa) is suitable for hard clay, silt, and sand formations. The PY-5 model (up to 5.5 Mpa) is ideal for tougher strata, including weathered rock and soft rock formations, while PY-3 is best for clay and silt.
The system features a minimal pressure gauge reading of 0.005Mpa with a comprehensive error rate of ≤ ±1%, using both electrical measurement and visual systems to ensure highly reliable and precise data recording.