
E1001A-171107
27
14
MISCELLANEOUS
Creep test
The creep test kit makes it possible to carry out creep tests by maintaining a constant
pressure for a long period of time. To perform creep tests:
1. Disconnect the actuator screw from the cylinder shaft by unscrewing the knurled nut.
2. Turn the crank clockwise to raise the actuator screw to the uppermost position.
3. Connect one end of the high-pressure tubing to the pressure regulator of the nitrogen
cylinder, and one end to the quick port No. 2 of the pressuremeter’s front panel.
4. Place valve No. 6 on "TEST".
5. Proceed except as noted below using the same method to carry out stress controlled
tests.
6. Instead of advancing the piston with the screw actuator, apply and control pressure
using the nitrogen cylinder regulator. The applied pressure will be different from the
effective pressure rea
d with the pressuremeter’s pressure sensor due to the piston
friction and to the difference of area of the two sides of the piston.
7. At each constant pressure step, record the volume readings at regular intervals.
8. To return the piston to its initial position, it is necessary to couple the actuator screw to
the piston shaft using the knurled nut.
Please note that pressuremeter equipped with a creep test kit should be
assembled as shown on the following picture.
Volume readings of the electrical sensor vs those of the
optional mechanical volume counter
Note: as the pressure in the unit is increased, a slight difference in volume readings
between the electrical sensor and the optional mechanical volume counter will appear. This
difference is due to the deformation of the pressurized jack which affects only the reading of
the mechanical volume counter. This difference will be largely compensated in future
calculations when subtracting the equipment deformation value obtained during the volume
loss calibration. Consequently, the impact on the corrected values is not significant and
should be ignored. Volume readings obtained from the two types of sensors should not be
mixed. We suggest to always using by default those from the electrical sensor.