Description

The Heavy Duty Vibrating Wire Piezometer accurately measures pore water pressures in fully or partially saturated soil.

The heavy duty design prevents case stresses from affecting readings in extreme installations (dams and high ground stresses). The transducer is fitted with either a low air entry sintered steel or a high air entry ceramic filter. A cone shaped nose piece is available for push in installations.

The transducer is made from high quality 316 grade stainless steel and designed for pressure ranges from -50 to 15,000 kPa.

The Heavy Duty Vibrating Wire Piezometer incorporates an over voltage surge arrestor to offer protection from an indirect lightning strike. The piezometer is also available with a thermistor for temperature monitoring.

PRODUCT FEATURES

• Heavy duty design
• Uses proven Vibrating Wire (VW) technology
• Manufactured from high grade 316 stainless steel for extended operation
• In built temperature compensation
• Hermetically sealed
• Highly accurate device
• Capable of measuring negative pore pressures to –50 kPa
• Available with thermistor for temperature monitoring

PRODUCT BENEFITS

• Over 30 years of expertise in the design and manufacture of Vibrating Wire instrument technology
• Accurate, repeatable readings over long cable lengths
• Long working life, long term stability and reliability
• Works in extreme installations and pressures up to 15000kPa
• Fast response to pressure changes
• Advanced design prevents case stresses from affecting readings
• Over voltage surge arrestor protects against electrical damage Connecting cable is strong, armoured and flexible

OPERATION 

The Heavy Duty Vibrating Wire Piezometer is designed for the accurate measurement of pore water pressures in fully or partially saturated soil and rock.

The Piezometer tip comprises a porous filter element integral with a diaphragm type Vibrating Wire pressure transducer. A cable connects the transducer to a read out, terminal unit or data logger.

The readout displays either frequency based units, or by inputting  the instrument calibration factor, engineering units.

APPLICATIONS

Piezometers are used in geotechnical, environmental, and hydrological applications. They can be installed in boreholes, placed in fill materials or in open wells to measure water levels or porewater pressures to enable engineers to verify design assumptions and control placement of fill. With a nose cone fitted the piezometer can also be pushed into soft ground with a CPT rig.

Typical applications include:

• Environmental management including landfill sites
• Monitoring of aquifers
• Monitoring of tidal effects on coastal soils
• Dams
• Embankments
• Potential landslide sites
• Dewatering excavations
• Tailings lagoons
• Pumping tests
• Monitoring seepage
• Control placement of fill.