
E1001A-171107
22
9
TRANSPORT
1. The instrument can be transported full of water and saturated as long as the piston is in
its lowermost position. It is imperative to bleed water when unit will be exposed to
freezing temperatures.
2. Unscrew the knurled nut on the screw actuator.
3. Dismount the screw jack and its support columns and disconnect the tubing.
4. Place valve No. 6 on "TEST" and install the control unit cover.
Warning: Always keep the two TEXAM
e
carrying cases upright. Never tilt them on
their side.
10
LIMITATIONS OF USE
10.1 COLD TEMPERATURE
Antifreezes
In order to use the TEXAM
e
at temperature below 0°C, water must be replaced by an
antifreeze solution. Various types of antifreeze can be considered.
Methanol-based antifreezes (regularly used in windshield washer liquid) offer the best
protection for pressuremeters at very cold temperature. It must be noted that methanol can
be corrosive for the equipment. It is very important to flush the TEXAM
e
with clean water
as often as possible to protect it. Methanol is not considered environment-friendly and is
inflammable.
Ethylene-glycol-based antifreeze (regularly used in engine antifreeze liquid) is less
corrosive for the equipment. However note that ethylene glycol and low temperatures will
significantly increase viscosity of the liquid, which means that time required for inflating and
deflating the probe will significantly increase too. A 50-50 solution of water - ethylene glycol
by volume will allow using the equipment at about -25°C, a 70-30 solution can be used
down to about -10°C. It is very important to flush the unit with clean water as often as
possible to protect it and avoid deposits. Ethylene-glycol is not environment-friendly.
Ethanol-based antifreezes are sometime used. It must be noted that ethanol can be
corrosive for the equipment, depending on the brand. Internal tests have shown that it will
get very viscous at -15 deg C. Ethanol is environment-friendly, but is inflammable.
Propylene-glycol-based antifreeze is normally too viscous for use with pressuremeters.
Valve leakage
When the pressuremeter is used at low temperature, the valve No. 6 may leak. This is
caused by the differential thermal contraction of the brass ball valve and its spherical Teflon
seat. To stop the leaks, remove the valve handle using a 3/32" Allen wrench and tighten
the packing nut using the chrome plated packing nut tool provided with the instrument.
Usually 1/8" of a turn will suffice to stop the leak.
10.2 SOFT MATERIAL
The inertia of the TEXAM membrane is very low (30-70 kPa) which allows its use in very
soft soils. However, special precautions must be taken not to remould the boreholes
while drilling them.