Measuring Principle:
The vibrating wire settlement cell is connected, by means of a pair of tubes, to a liquid tank of known specific weight. Due to the difference in level between the tank and the cell, a column of water forms the connecting tubes and acts on the instrument membrane, applying a hydrostatic load proportional to the difference in level between the membrane and the free surface of the liquid in the tank .
On variation of the difference in height/level/distance, the hydrostatic load varies proportionally and the instrument assesses it as a normal change in pressure; measurement is made with the portable units or automatic acquisition units used for any other vibrating wire sensor.
Composite systems are available: they allow the use of several measuring cells powered by the same hydraulic system.
The water level in the reference tank, maintained at a constant level, is easily measured with topographic measurements.
By placing various sensors in an embankment (or points to be monitored) and connecting them hydraulically to a reference system placed externally to the structure (roughly at the same height or at a higher level, compatible with the total field of the instrument), it is easy to automatically detect their settlement i.e. settlement of the ground at points where the cells are applied.
The choice of the full range of the sensor is essential and depends only on differences in quote between the sensor and the reference tank.
This choice has an influence on measurement quality because it is decisive for sensitivity and hence resolution; the greater the full-scale range, the worst the resolution ( that is the interval between two values of level neither perceptible nor measurable).
To optimize results obtained using automatic settlement cells, the difference in height between the sensor and the tank needs to be minimized.
Components of the system are:
- Reference tank
- Vibrating wire settlement cells
- Pair of tubes in Rilsan in a PVC casing and connecting cable (2x2x0,35mm2) with PUR coated sheath and Kevlar reinforcement, incorporating a Rilsan tube for barometric compensation.
- Filter for atmospheric compensation tube
- Manifold for the application of multiple cells
Technical Specifications:
| Sensor |
| °Type |
Vibrating Wire Piezometer |
| Range of the sensor (H2O) |
10,20,30,50,100 10m-20m-30m-50m-100m |
| Precision of the sensor |
<±0,1% F.S. |
| Resolution of the sensor |
0,02% F.S. |
| Linearity of the sensor |
<±0,2% F.S. |
| Electric Unit Range of the sensor (Hz) |
550 – 1200 |
| Temperature Drift |
0,025 % F.S. for °C |
| Repeatability and accuracy in the measurement |
± 0,02% F.S. ÷ ± 0,1% F.S. |
| Total accuracy of the system |
Depending on the installation environmental conditions and on the instrumental range |
| Material: body of the cell, reference tank, tube |
Stainless steel – PVC |
| Dimensions of the plate |
460 x 460 mm |
Accessories and related products:
| Junction Box with filter |
Available under different models for the connection of different instruments |
| Measurement and selection box with filter |
Measurement Box with MUX boards for the automatic selection |
| Measurement box with filter |
Measurement Box |
| Multicore cable |
Available with different conductors for the connection of different sensors to one cable |
| DEC5 |
Portable Readout Unit |
| DEC3000 |
Portable Datalogger |
| CUM3000 |
Multichannel Datalogger |
| MUX |
Multiplexer for the connection of different sensors to datalogger |
Technical Assistance
If you have any requests or questions about our instruments or if you have special needs that require different solutions from the standard, please contact us. Our team will provide all the necessary information and will be very happy to work with you to study, develop and customize instruments and solutions suitable for your specific needs.
All information in our datasheet is subject to change without prior notice.
Please check the datasheet/details carefully and contact Pizzi Instruments for further information.
