Previsão da capacidade de carga de fundações superficiais em solos de dunas, através do pressiômetro Ménard.

Abstract

In the present work, the stress-deformation behavior of an Aeolian sand deposit of a compact to highly compact type is studied based on the results of field test conducted by using the Menard pressure meter. The research was carried out in a partnership among UFCG, COPPE/UFRJ, and UNIFOR, at Taiba beach, Ceara State, Brazil, where ten Aeolian energy generator is installed on squared foundations, and had as the main objective, to forecast the bearing capacity of superficial foundations through pressure meter tests. The results from the Menard pressure meter testing were compared with those obtained in borings done at the same site, based on a SPT standard, and revealed that the accepted stress provided by the Menard pressure meter was about 20% lower than the one obtained with SPT standard, when a traditional Brazilian method was applied. Regarding to SPT methods from other countries, the comparisons indicated that forecast based on the Menard tests were 68% and 94% lower than those methods stated by Terzaghi and Peck (1967) and Perry (1978), respectively. On the other hand, the results from Menard pressure meter were 44% higher than those obtained through the application of the method proposed by Meyerhof (1965). Based on these results, it is suggested that additional studies should be done, considering the accomplishment of bearing test on plates to determine the terrain acceptable stress.