The evolution of Menard pressuremeter cavity preparation in France

Abstract

Since Louis Ménard invented his first pressuremeter prototype in 1954, the pressuremeter and its placement techniques into the ground have gone through numerous advancements. In this paper, the authors review the cavity preparation developments in France from the early days of developing the pressuremeter to contemporary times. Pressuremeter probes were initially installed using hand augers, which was quite time consuming and cumbersome. Soon after, drilling was mechanized using drilling rigs with various abilities and capacities in the form of rotary and percussion drilling. Specific techniques such as STAF, RotoSTAF, and similar devices have now been developed to create holes with minimum disturbance in the ground.

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