A practical resource to improve the quality of pressuremeter tests

The ARSCOP National Project provides a practical sheet aimed at field operators and, more broadly, all geotechnical survey stakeholders. This guide focuses on the MENARD pressuremeter test, following the (EN) ISO 22476-4 standard, and presents key best practices to ensure reliable and usable measurements.

It is primarily intended for drillers and investigation technicians, but will also benefit engineers, design offices, construction companies, project owners, or control offices wishing to ensure the quality of their geotechnical surveys.

Why this Practical Sheet?

During the public presentation of the ARSCOP National Project in September 2024, industry professionals expressed a clear need: to have an operational, clear, and easily applicable document for use in the field. This led the ARSCOP Steering Committee to create this concise sheet to:

  • Reiterate the fundamentals of proper MENARD test execution;
  • Share recommendations from ARSCOP’s feedback;
  • Emphasize the key role of the driller, a crucial link in obtaining quality data.

The MENARD Pressuremeter Test: A Core Tool in French Geotechnics

The pressuremeter test is a cornerstone of soil investigation in France. It is used to characterize mechanical properties of soils (pressuremeter modulus, limit pressure, creep pressure) and support design calculations. It also provides valuable insights into the initial stress state of the ground.

Developed by Louis Ménard in the 1950s, this test has allowed France to acquire a unique geotechnical design tool, applied in:

  • Shallow and deep foundations;
  • Retaining walls;
  • Soil reinforcement, etc.

The Role of the ARSCOP National Project

ARSCOP (New Approaches to Soil Investigation and Geotechnical Structure Design Using the Pressuremeter) is a collaborative research project labeled “National Project” by the Ministry of Ecological Transition in 2016. Managed by IREX, it brings together major players in the field: clients, engineers, drilling companies, manufacturers, researchers…

Main objectives of ARSCOP:

  • Improve soil investigation and geotechnical design using the pressuremeter test;
  • Upgrade test equipment for higher performance and usability.
  • Develop suitable behaviour laws for numerical modelling;
  • Consolidate best practices for test execution and interpretation

Why Execution Quality Matters

ARSCOP’s research confirmed that the quality of pressuremeter test results depends directly on drilling quality and probe placement techniques. This sheet thus aims to:

  • Highlight the operator’s role as a data reliability guarantor;
  • Provide a reference tool for field teams to secure their practices;

Improve the usability of pressuremeter tests in geotechnical studies.

A Sheet to Be Widely Shared

The ARSCOP National Project encourages the entire geotechnical community to download, use, and share this practical guide within their teams and networks. Improving test quality collectively will enhance calculation models, geotechnical risk control, and project performance

Don’t hesitate to pass it on to
your worksites, your training courses
or your professional networks.


The ARSCOP National Project was approved in 2016 by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, highlighting its strategic importance for civil engineering and public works. It reflects the State’s commitment to support technical innovation in infrastructure and sustainable construction.

The project is managed by IREX (Institute for Applied Research and Experimentation in Civil Engineering), which has supported collaborative research projects since 1989. By coordinating research actions and ensuring innovation transfer to professionals, IREX plays a key role in transforming scientific knowledge into technical references and best practice guides.

The National Project on New Approaches to Soil Investigation and the Design of Geotechnical Structures Using the Pressuremeter (ARSCOP) is coming to a close. To mark the occasion, a results restitution day was held on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at the FNTP headquarters in Paris. Over 140 people attended the event.

The findings showcase various aspects of the National Project, including comparisons of current practices in performing the Ménard pressuremeter test, advancements in testing protocols and interpretation methods for pressuremeter tests in general, and their application to geotechnical design. The ARSCOP National Project partners are making the replay of the event, along with the presentation materials, available to the pressuremeter community and the geotechnical field more broadly.


The ARSCOP National Project is managed by IREX, a non-profit organization (under the French law of 1901), whose purpose is to set up and monitor collaborative and multi-partner research initiatives, and is involved in applied research programs for infrastructure design and maintenance, and worksite construction.

By federating all the players in the public works and civil engineering sector around major research challenges, IREX is a vehicle for transferring innovation from the academic world to the profession.

The general assembly of the  project ARSCOP took place on May 11th, 2016 in Paris (France). This event was the official start of the project and brought together more than 50 participants. The organization of the project was presented:

  • President : Roger FRANK (ENPC)
  • Technical Directors : Sébastien BURLON & Philippe REIFFSTECK (IFSTTAR)

The working group leaders were also identified:

  • Axe 1 – Development of testing devices and test procedures: Catherine JACQUARD (Fondasol) & Serge VARAKSIN (Apagéo)
  • Axe 2 – Calculation methods of geotechnical structures: Daniel DIAS (L3SR) & Alain PUECH (Fugro)
  • Axe 3 – Assessment and communication: Luis CARPINTEIRO (Socotec) & Julien HABERT (Cerema)

Download support presentation

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