An In Situ Permeability Measurement Technique For Cut-Off Walls Using The Cambridge Self Boring Pressuremeter

Cut-off walls are used to control pollution migration and permeability measurements are necessary for assessing their effectiveness. While laboratory testing is often sufficient, there are situations where in situ testing is preferable. A new procedure for measuring permeability in situ is presented. The technique utilises the Cambridge self boring pressuremeter and enables permeability to be determined as one of a number of fundamental material properties from a self boring test. A profile of parameters with wall depth can therefore be defined. Preliminary data from a test site in the U.K. are presented. The data indicate permeability values higher than those derived from existing methods but strength and stiffness parameters are in reasonable agreement.