PRESSURE METER TEST REPORT

(R-012-090)
PROPOSED
KING ABDULLAH FOUNDATION PROJECT,
RIYADH,
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.

PREPARED FOR:
M/s. Saudi Binladin Group,
Riyadh,

Client File # R-12-090

August, 2012

PRESSUREMETER TEST REPORT

KING ABDULLAH FOUNDATION PROJECT, RIYADH,
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

1. INTRODUCTION

2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF WORK

3. PRESSURE-METER CALIBRATION

4. TEST PROCEDURE

5. ANALYSIS WITH MEASUREMENT RESULTS

6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

APPENDIX A
1. FIGURE 01 : PG CORRECTED STRAIGHT LINE
2. STRESS DEFORMATION CURVES
3. TABLE 01 : SUMMARY OF PRESSUREMETER TEST RESULTS

PRESSUREMETER TEST REPORT

KING ABDULLAH FOUNDATION PROJECT, RIYADH,
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.

INTRODUCTION
This report presents the results of the Pressuremeter Tests carried out by AL JAZZAR
(Omar Jazzar Consulting Engineers), Geotechnical & Materials Engineers, for the King
Abdullah Foundation Project, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The work was
authorized by M/s. Saudi Binladin Group, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Pressuremeter tests were conducted at site from 11th & 15th April, 2012 in presence of
client engineer. Total of Twenty One (21) tests were conducted in three boreholes viz., BH#5,
BH#6 & BH#9 at various depth of boreholes where in rock parameters were supposed to be
determined and the results are presented in this report.

This report describes the field work done on the site, analysis of measurement and results
obtained from the measurement from site.

PURPOSE & SCOPE OF WORK

The purpose of conducting Pressuremeter test is to evaluate the engineering properties of subsurface rock like the ground co-efficient, elastic modulus and shear modulus for the use in the
design of foundation and substructures

PRESSURE METER CALIBRATION

The Elastmeter function to let the pressure exerted on the Borehole wall via rubber tube.
Because of its elasticity retained, rubber indicates the variation with its thickness influenced
by the pressure loaded on it. At time of the measurement, the correction is required with the
data influenced by the pressure varying the rubber tube thickness.

PRESSUREMETER TEST REPORT

KING ABDULLAH FOUNDATION PROJECT, RIYADH,
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.

Figure - 01 shown Appendix A represents the relation between Pressure "P" and the
thickness variation volume (PG Corrected straight line) where the line slope (Inclination
Factor) is K = 69
TEST PROCEDURE
1. Drilling of borehole: The drilling of borehole must be accomplished as smooth as
possible to have less disturbance of the borehole wall.
2. Eliminate air bubbles in the high pressure tube
3. Lowering the probe into borehole and subsequent measurement.
4. Pressurizing and measuring
5. Pressurizing the probe with increment. (Step loading).
6.

Measure the pressure and the displacement values with applying equal pressure
gradually.

7. The loading increments shall be about 0.5 MPa.

8. Proceed to next step after the reading promptly.
9. The test should be terminated when reaching the limit of its maximum.
10. Release the pressure to deflate packer, then retrieve the probe from the borehole or
shift the probe to another test depth.
11. The diameter of borehole should be close to the same diameter of probe.
12. The interval of measuring depth is 5.0 m.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS

The indicator of the Elastmeter system get two raw reads, Pressure applied and Radius of the
Rubber. After corrected the Rubber Radius, the stress-deformation curve then has drawn.
From the curve, the Modulus of Elasticity, E can be calculated (as per ASTM D-4719)
Appendix (A) shows the stress-deformation curves for the tested boreholes for different
depths.

PRESSUREMETER TEST REPORT

KING ABDULLAH FOUNDATION PROJECT, RIYADH,
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The result of a pressure-meter testing has been conducted at the proposed King Abdullah
Foundation Project, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Table 01of Appendix - A shows the results of the pressuremeter test with Ground Coefficient (K), Modulus of Elasticity (E) & Shear Modulus, (G) for the different boreholes at
various depths.

The wide range obtained for the pressuremeter modulus might be attributed to the nature of
the rock mass at the site. Values of modulus might be affected by the existence of
discontinuities, anomalies and size of cavities at or near the test locations. It might be of
interested to note that the highest modulus value (50,017 MPa) obtained at a depth of
(33.00m) of borehole # 6 where as the lowest modulus value (1017 MPa) obtained at a depth
of (10.00m) of borehole # 9

Yours very truly,

FOR OMAR JAZZAR CONSULTING ENGINEERS
(Geotechnical & Materials Engineers)

S. Joseph Ravi, M.E; MIGS;DBM;,

Branch Manager



























2


PRESSUREMETER TEST REPORT

KING ABDULLAH FOUNDATION PROJECT, RIYADH,
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.

Table 01 : Summary of Pressuremeter Test Results

BH
#

Ground
Depth Coefficient,
(m) K=
P/
R,
MPa
17
22
27
32
37
8
13
18
23
33
38
43
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
44.5

93
105
143
500
500
429
105
429
167
500
43
500
10
204
263
143
400
172
114
500

Modulus of
Elasticity,
E=(1+
).r.K
MPa

Shear
Modulus,
G=E/2(1+
)
MPa

9253*
10540
14323
49479
49946
43691
10924
43352
16959
50017
4358*
49896
1017*
20482
26355
14307
39947
17187
11263
49892

3559
4054
5509
19030
19210
16804
4202
16674
6523
19237
1676
19191
391
7878
10137
5503
15364
6610
4332
19189

Note:
1. The Ground Coefficient K is the slope of pressure applied and radius measured
2. The Poissons Ratio
has been assumed as 0.3 for all calculation
3. The r represents intermediate radius for the section to calculate K value
4. The modulus values might be affected by the existence of discontinuities,
anomalies and size of cavities at or near the test depth.
1

PRESSUREMETER TEST REPORT

KING ABDULLAH FOUNDATION PROJECT, RIYADH,
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA.

Figure - 01 : PG Corrected Straight Line K = 69

25.0

Pressure 'P' (MPa)

20.0

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

Thickness Variation Volume (mm)

0.2

0.25

0.3

BH # 5 - Depth 17.0 m

4.5

4.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (4.0-1.5)/(76.881-76.854) = 93

76.881, 4

Stress P

3.5

76.873, 3.5

3.0

76.868, 3.0

2.5

76.867, 2.5

2.0

76.862, 2.0

1.5

76.854, 1.5

1.0

0.5

76.849, 1.0

76.372, 0.5

0.0
76.300

76.400

76.500

76.600

76.700

Deformation R

76.800

76.900

77.000

BH # 5 - Depth 22.0 m

9.0

8.0

7.0

77.051, 8.0
77.050, 7.5

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (5.0-1.0)/(77.041-77.003) = 105

77.046, 7.0
77.045, 6.5

6.0

77.043, 6.0

Stress P

77.042, 5.5
5.0

77.041, 5.0
77.037, 4.5

4.0

77.036, 4.0
77.031, 3.5

3.0

77.030, 3.0
77.025, 2.5

2.0

77.020, 2.0
77.015, 1.5

1.0

77.003, 1.0
76.773, 0.5

0.0
76.750

76.800

76.850

76.900

76.950

Deformation R

77.000

77.050

77.100

BH # 5 - Depth 27.0 m

6.0
77.141, 5.5
5.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (4.5-1.5)/(77.135-77.114) = 143

77.133, 5
77.135, 4.5

4.0

77.131, 4

Stress P

77.126, 3.5
3.0

77.121, 3
77.120, 2.5

2.0

77.119, 2.0
77.114, 1.5

1.0

77.124, 1.0
76.736, 0.5

0.0
76.700

76.750

76.800

76.850

76.900

76.950
Deformation R

77.000

77.050

77.100

77.150

77.200

BH # 5 - Depth 32.0 m

9.0

8.0

7.0

76.171, 8.0
76.166, 7.5

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (4.0-1.0)/(76.124-76.118) = 500

76.165, 7.0
76.168, 6.5

6.0

76.167, 6.0

Stress P

76.166, 5.5
5.0

76.161, 5.0
76.125, 4.5

4.0

76.124, 4.0
76.123, 3.5

3.0

76.122, 3.0
76.121, 2.5

2.0

76.120, 2.0
76.119, 1.5

1.0

76.118, 1.0

0.0
76.110

76.120

76.130

76.140

76.150

Deformation R

76.160

76.170

76.180

BH # 5 - Depth 37.0 m

9.0

8.0

7.0

76.845, 8.0
76.844, 7.5

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (5.5-3.0)/(76.843-76.838) = 500

76.846, 7.0
76.845, 6.5

6.0

76.844, 6.0

Stress P

76.843, 5.5
5.0

76.842, 5.0
76.841, 4.5

4.0

76.840, 4.0
76.839, 3.5

3.0

76.838, 3.0
76.837, 2.5

2.0

76.836, 2.0
76.839, 1.5

1.0

76.827, 1.0

0.0
76.825

76.830

76.835

76.840
Deformation R

76.845

76.850

BH # 6 - Depth 8.0 m

9.0

8.0

78.424, 8.0
78.423, 7.5

7.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (8.0-5.0)/(78.424-78.417)= 429

78.422, 7.0
78.421, 6.5

6.0

78.420, 6.0

Stress P

78.419, 5.5
5.0

78.417, 5.0
78.420, 4.5

4.0

78.415, 4.0
78.410, 3.5

3.0

78.409, 3.0
78.407, 2.5

2.0

78.365, 2.0
78.269, 1.5

1.0

78.124, 1.0

0.0
78.100

78.150

78.200

78.250

78.300

Deformation R

78.350

78.400

78.450

BH # 6 - Depth 13.0 m

9.0

8.0

79.846, 8.0
79.840, 7.5

7.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (7.0-5.0)/(79.839-79.820)= 105

79.839, 7.0
79.833, 6.5

6.0

79.832, 6.0

Stress P

79.826, 5.5
5.0

79.820, 5.0
79.815, 4.5

4.0

79.840, 4.0
79.803, 3.5

3.0

79.784, 3.0
79.765, 2.5

2.0

79.741, 2.0
79.709, 1.5

1.0

79.654, 1.0

0.0
79.600

79.650

79.700

79.750
Deformation R

79.800

79.850

79.900

BH # 6 - Depth 18.0 m

9.0

8.0

77.816, 8.0
77.814, 7.5

7.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (5.5-2.5)/(77.814-77.807)= 429

77.813, 7.0
77.812, 6.5

6.0

77.815, 6.0

Stress P

77.814, 5.5
5.0

77.813, 5.0
77.812, 4.5

4.0

77.811, 4.0
77.810, 3.5

3.0

77.809, 3.0
77.807, 2.5

2.0

77.806, 2.0
77.801, 1.5

1.0

77.796, 1.0

0.0
77.795

77.800

77.805

77.810
Deformation R

77.815

77.820

BH # 6 - Depth 23.0 m

9.0

8.0

78.316, 8.0
78.274, 7.5

7.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (7.0-5.0)/(78.280-78.268)= 167

78.277, 7.0
78.276, 6.5

6.0

78.275, 6.0

Stress P

78.269, 5.5
5.0

78.268, 5.0
78.263, 4.5

4.0

78.254, 4.0
78.248, 3.5

3.0

78.239, 3.0
78.230, 2.5

2.0

78.216, 2.0
78.203, 1.5

1.0

78.181, 1.0

0.0
78.160

78.180

78.200

78.220

78.240

78.260

Deformation R

78.280

78.300

78.320

78.340

BH # 6 - Depth 28.0 m

1.2

1.0

78.120, 1.0

Probe Rubber Punctured

Stress P

0.8

0.6
77.184, 0.5
0.4

0.2

0.0
75.500

75.638, 0.0
76.000

76.500

77.000
Deformation R

77.500

78.000

78.500

BH # 6 - Depth 33.0 m

9.0

8.0

76.950, 8.0
76.952, 7.5

7.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (5.5-3.5)/(76.952-76.948)= 500

76.951, 7.0
76.950, 6.5

6.0

76.953, 6.0

Stress P

76.952, 5.5
5.0

76.951, 5.0
76.950, 4.5

4.0

76.949, 4.0
76.948, 3.5

3.0

76.947, 3.0
76.942, 2.5

2.0

76.937, 2.0
76.932, 1.5

1.0

76.924, 1.0

0.0
76.920

76.925

76.930

76.935

76.940

Deformation R

76.945

76.950

76.955

BH # 6 - Depth 43.0 m

9.0

8.0

77.158, 8.0
77.157, 7.5

7.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (5.0-3.0)/(77.129-77.083)= 44

77.152, 7.0
77.147, 6.5

6.0

77.142, 6.0

Stress P

77.134, 5.5
5.0

77.129, 5.0
77.120, 4.5

4.0

77.108, 4.0
77.095, 3.5

3.0

77.083, 3.0
77.063, 2.5

2.0

77.046, 2.0
77.011, 1.5

1.0

76.961, 1.0

0.0
76.950

77.000

77.050

77.100
Deformation R

77.150

77.200

BH # 6 - Depth 43.0 m

9.0

8.0

76.763, 8.0
76.766, 7.5

7.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (6.0-3.5)/(76.766-76.761)= 500

76.765, 7.0
76.767, 6.5

6.0

76.766, 6.0

Stress P

76.765, 5.5
5.0

76.764, 5.0
76.763, 4.5

4.0

76.762, 4.0
76.761, 3.5

3.0

76.760, 3.0
76.755, 2.5

2.0

76.754, 2.0
76.750, 1.5

1.0

76.741, 1.0

0.0
76.735

76.740

76.745

76.750

76.755

Deformation R

76.760

76.765

76.770

BH # 9 - Depth 10.0 m

4.5

4.0

3.5

79.369, 4.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (4.0-2.5)/(79.369-79.217)= 10

79.333, 3.5

Stress P

3.0

79.279, 3.0

2.5

79.217, 2.5

2.0

79.111, 2.0

1.5

78.972, 1.5

1.0

0.5

78.774, 1.0

77.200, 0.5

0.0
77.000

77.500

78.000

78.500
Deformation R

79.000

79.500

BH # 9 - Depth 15.0 m

9.0

8.0

77.530, 8.0
77.525, 7.5

7.0

77.520, 7.0
77.359, 6.5

6.0

77.358, 6.0

Stress P

77.357, 5.5
5.0

77.352, 5.0
77.347, 4.5

4.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (6.5-1.0)/(77.359-77.332)= 204

77.346, 4.0
77.345, 3.5

3.0

77.344, 3.0
77.343, 2.5

2.0

77.338, 2.0
77.333, 1.5

1.0

77.332, 1.0

0.0
77.300

77.350

77.400

77.450
Deformation R

77.500

77.550

BH # 9 - Depth 20.0 m

9.0

8.0

77.044, 8.0
77.047, 7.5

7.0

77.046, 7.0
77.045, 6.5

Stress P

6.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (7.0-2.0)/(77.047-77.028)= 263

77.043, 6.0
77.042, 5.5

5.0

77.038, 5.0
77.037, 4.5

4.0

77.036, 4.0
77.034, 3.5

3.0

77.030, 3.0
77.029, 2.5

2.0

77.028, 2.0
77.023, 1.5

1.0

77.018, 1.0

0.0
77.015

77.020

77.025

77.030

77.035

Deformation R

77.040

77.045

77.050

BH # 9 - Depth 25.0 m

77.048, 8.0
77.047, 7.5

77.046, 7.0
77.048, 6.5

Stress P

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (5.0-3.0)/(77.045-77.031)= 143

77.043, 6.0
77.046, 5.5

77.045, 5.0
77.040, 4.5

77.039, 4.0
77.034, 3.5

77.030, 3.0
77.021, 2.5

77.005, 2.0
76.970, 1.5

0
76.960

76.970

76.980

76.990

77.000

77.010
Deformation R

77.020

77.030

77.040

77.050

77.060

BH # 9 - Depth 30.0 m

9.0

8.0

76.833, 8.0
76.829, 7.5

7.0

Ground Coefficient
K = P/R = (5.0-3.0)/(76.824-76.819)= 400

76.828, 7.0
76.823, 6.5

6.0

76.822, 6.0

Stress P

76.821, 5.5
5.0

76.824, 5.0
76.823, 4.5

4.0

76.822, 4.0
76.820, 3.5

3.0

76.819, 3.0
76.818, 2.5

2.0

76.814, 2.0
76.813, 1.5

1.0

76.804, 1.0

0.0
76.800

76.805

76.810

76.815

76.820

Deformation R

76.825

76.830

76.835

BH # 9 - Depth 35.0 m
9.0

8.0

76.696, 8.0
76.695, 7.5

7.0

Ground Co-efficient
K = P/R = (7.0 -2.0)/(76.694-76.665) = 70

76.694, 7.0
76.693, 6.5

6.0

76.689, 6.0

Stress P

76.684, 5.5
5.0

76.683, 5.0
76.682, 4.5

4.0

76.677, 4.0
76.676, 3.5

3.0

76.671, 3.0
76.663, 2.5

2.0

76.658, 2.0
76.650, 1.5

1.0

76.620, 1.0

0.0
76.610

76.620

76.630

76.640

76.650

76.660
Deformation R

76.670

76.680

76.690

76.700

76.710

BH # 9 - Depth 40.0 m
9.0

8.0

7.0

76.259, 8.0
76.258, 7.5

Ground Co-efficient
K = P/R = (4.5 -2.0)/(76.255-76.233) = 114

76.257, 7.0
76.256, 6.5

6.0

76.251, 6.0

Stress P

76.250, 5.5
5.0

76.253, 5.0
76.255, 4.5

4.0

76.251, 4.0
76.246, 3.5

3.0

76.242, 3.0
76.237, 2.5

2.0

76.226, 2.0
76.218, 1.5

1.0

76.217, 1.0

0.0
76.210

76.215

76.220

76.225

76.230

76.235

76.240

Deformation R

76.245

76.250

76.255

76.260

76.265

BH # 9 - Depth 44.5 m
9.0

8.0

76.767, 8.0
76.766, 7.5

7.0

6.0

76.765, 7.0
76.764, 6.5

Ground Co-efficient
K = P/R = (5.0 -2.0)/(76.760-76.754) = 500

76.766, 6.0

Stress P

76.765, 5.5
5.0

76.760, 5.0
76.759, 4.5

4.0

76.758, 4.0
76.757, 3.5

3.0

76.756, 3.0
76.755, 2.5

2.0

76.754, 2.0
76.750, 1.5

1.0

76.741, 1.0

0.0
76.735

76.740

76.745

76.750

76.755

Deformation R

76.760

76.765

76.770