Geotechnical parameters from pressuremeter tests for MRT Blue Line extension in Bangkok

Construction of the extension project of the Bangkok MRT Blue Line underground railway was recently started in 2011. The construction of approximately 5 km long underground tunnel and 4 deep excavations of underground station are considered to be the most important geotechnical works. The pressuremeter was selected as a high-quality in situ testing of the soil to evaluate design parameters for the project. In addition, other field and laboratory tests such as vane shear and CK0U triaxial tests were included in the investigation programme. This paper aims to present the ground conditions encountered along the MRT Blue Line extension project as well as the site investigation and interpretation techniques with particular focus on the pressuremeter tests. The results are also compared with the pressuremeter investigation from the previous Bangkok MRT project.