The Flat Dilatometer Test (DMT): Design Applications and Recent Developments

This paper presents an overview of the Flat Dilatometer Test (DMT) and of its main design applications, in view of the experience accumulated over the last 25 years. The following applications are outlined: determining common soil parameters, settlement prediction, compaction control, detecting slip surfaces in clay slopes, evaluating sand liquefiability, design of laterally loaded piles and diaphragm walls, subgrade compaction control. The basic differences of the DMT compared to other penetration tests are discussed. The newly introduced Seismic Dilatometer (SDMT), combination of the standard DMT with a seismic module for measurement of the shear wave velocity Vs, is also briefly described.