FORECAST OF CREEP SETTLEMENTS OF HEAVY STRUCTURES USING PRESSUREMETERTESTS

This paper presents a new method proposed for the prediction of long t erm settlement of very heavy structures based on a numerical interpret ation of long term pressuremeter creep tests. The constitutive model u sed for the modelling of the soil creep is described. The constants of the constitutive model are determined by fitting a simulated curve, g iven by a simple Finite Element Method, to the results of a long term pressuremeter creep test. The calculation of long term settlement unde r nuclear power plants, using the soil parameters defined by this meth od, is presented and compared with the in situ measured values.