Interpretation of the DMT in Silts

This paper describes a proposed testing procedure and interpretation method for the characterization of silts using the flat dilatometer test (DMT). This method aims to compensate for errors that are introduced by the partial-drainage conditions that take place around the DMT blade. In transient soils, the after-installation DMT readings change continuously with time because excess pore pressure dissipation. By monitoring the variation in A-readings, it is possible to extrapolate the results back to the origin to estimate an equivalent undrained A0 value. In addition, in seeking to obtain a closed-form solution for the membrane expansion problem in the elastic regime, a simple correction is introduced in the analysis where the B-reading is expressed in terms of average mean stresses that take place prior to expansion. Preliminary results in clay demonstrate that the method is effective and can be introduced in practice with minimal costs by considering simple adaptations to procedures originally developed for clay.