Abstract
The design of a self-boring load cell pressuremeter for the measurement of in situ lateral stress is described. The design incorporates six "null sensing" load cells around the probe circumference. The primary advantage of the design is that complex interpretation of the stress results is unnecessary as the instrument is direct reading. Field evaluation of the instrument was undertaken at a site in stiff clay where the stress regime in the soil was known. The use of the load cell pressuremeter enables a suitable test duration to be decided on-site by continuously monitoring soil stress until stability is obtained. (A)