Response of Linear Elastic Transverse-isotropic Media to Borehole Pressuremeter Loadings

Book excerpt: This report documents the development of a closed form solution to the idealized borehole pressuremeter problem in linear elastic transverse isotropic media. The borehole was assumed to be infinitely long and pressurized by a static pressure. The mathematical equations for the distribution of stresses and displacements anywhere around the borehole are derived and incorporated into the computer program BOREHOLE. The solution is relevant to the field determination of constitutive properties for use in ground shock calculations. It shows that, in theory, the pressure versus borehole volume change relations from a series of borehole pressuremeter tests inclined at different angles can be used to deduce an appropriate set of linear elastic transverse-isotropic constitutive properties for a given medium and provide an index to the degree of anisotropy of the material. (Author).