Instruction Manual Models 4800,4810 and 4820 ‘WW Earth Pressure Cells "No prof this istrcton manta may be reproduce, by ay meas, wibou be writen conse of ‘Geoon, Ine. The lfomatio contained bri i loved io be acute ad rll. However, Geos In assumes ‘0 respoasbliy for evo olson of misiterrestion The fomation bea sujet ange ‘without wetetion ‘Capri ©1984, 1996 2003, 2004. 2005 by Genk, ‘oe RevG, 103)ine + il ar cma Pe ee Roe leet eety St n ‘Geokon, In. warrants its products to be fe of defets in materials and workmanship, under normal use ‘and service fra peiod of 13 months rom date of purchase the ui should malfeeton, it must be ‘retumed tothe factory for evaluation, igh prepaid. Upon examination by Geokon, ithe units found to be defective it wll be repsied or replaced at no charge, However, the WARRANTY is VOID ifthe mit shown evidence of having been tampered with rthown evidanos of bing damaged a rel of ‘excessive corsion or current, heat, moisture or vibration, improper specification, misapplication, misuse or other operating conditions ouside of Gzokon's contro, Components which wear or which are damaged by misuse ae not warranted. This includes fuses and batries, Geokon manufactures siete instruments whose misuse is potentially dangerous. The instruments are {teed to be installed and used only by qualified personnel. There are no warranties except a tated horn. There ar no cher warranties, expressed or implied, ncudng but not limited to the implied ‘waranis of merchantability and of finess fora particular purpose. Geokon, In. snot responsible for any damages or losses caused to othe equipment, whether direc, indirect, incidental, special or consequential which the purchaser may experience asa result of he installation or use ofthe product. ‘The buyer's sole remedy fr any breach ofthis agreement by Geokon, nc or any breach of any waranty by Geokon, Inc. shall not exceed the purchase pice paid by the purchaser to Geokon, Ine. forthe unit of units, o equipment etl affected by such breach. Under no circumstances will Geokon reimburse the laimant for loss incurred ia removing nde reiastalling equipment Ever precaution for accuracy hasbeen taken inthe propration of manuals andor software, however, Geokoa, Ine. neither assumes responsiblity for any omissions or rors that may apear nor asumes lability for any damages or losses that result fom the use ofthe products in accordance withthe {information contained inthe manual or software.Be fies aia ‘i munh antohgge Sr Sali sings Ss nt bah lop Men: nt WA. i[Earth Pressure Cle provide rect means of measuring ‘otal presures, the ‘combo of eectve “sol strss and poe water pressure in oro. “Retaining walle suraces 1 Shoe ng «tury alle Tunnettnings “They may also be used to measre sort bering Slabs ant footings and at the ts a les Grokow Earth Pressure Cells + a Ps i a Me i ee os OP ah Operating Principle far sie cnr fo Sloe wenger and a tana ‘spinner sn sR Eu sures que Pe ops oper aig an qu sun teins ai Ag fines wig cast ui ty inosn owe sia rind be we Advastayes % Limitations “he nS a Ps Cac tne peg ania tsa eae log tam iy lal ema wiles 2 rey ma its, Mrs 0 ees mre mpeotin manson edict i rig poten ae tran rn nao aaa et er pgs ests ese 20, Cima eed seg srg silpepones ous bepottiny apes ala cl neal ys pee eon engemarels Howe aes oe ue at (Dish daner ota tet We Gran: minum ses ations yt chs Ban om 2 sa 9 and specs pny eta 201 91 Tson Sexe isn gts swat ‘teal rei al ee ye a0 pin Tae potty gute cet ay esi pes date ea ‘pk alcoadbydave stn, ar ese ‘helm us rat ra aaa hae a ps ses ‘ge rat a gd pate cone one aT) ia, onte cepa lamps crema Isc pater cara htt se ahepl in spzsing ta nin stec Fon ale posses.Chl ard om we reset pe Tyan tars 2a ese ‘ante mantis ete Spc orca leo Sel dane "rele ates te Ire see ry tc aie est ome ab rs eons ng nati Temasek lela aie rg ats te noe l ‘Tedd 0 ar ese inci ones seer Th tite isbikoea or 8c mw, heart ite sie we gin ‘rain rn igen aie nan ey ecg so pass, lupe se pve ame tate cl terre emt ma ee eee sel oa ws ‘tee awe ain aw stn ih ty aah mati ne 2 thecal alse ens sap 24010 Colina te ate fons marty lo tut ave paste ime nth ee tone oenteme foot Ings aus nga abs ett ita setTechnical Spectications oie tmoie tie assy leet eee tat ——— eee ‘Siareriner IEQKON eres 8 oryctn com 8 nenTABLE of CONTENTS Page 1, Introuetion 1.1. Theory of Operation. " 3 112. Earth Pressure Cell Design 5 1.3. Earth Pressure Cell Construction. 6 2. Installation 2.1 Preliminary Tests 8 22, Pressure Call Installation svosnevos 8 23. Cable Installation 2.4, Blectcal Noise. 255. Initial Readings 15 3. Taking Readings 3.1 Operation ofthe GK-401 Readout Box... 16 3.2 Operation of the GK-403 Readout BOX evnrnenen 16 33. Operation of the GK-404 Readout Box 16 3.4. Measuring Temperatures. Esi7 “4, Data Reduction 4.1, Pressure Caleultion cn ct 8 42. Temperature Correction... 19 43 Barometric Comeetion..nsnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnns 19 5. Troubleshooting... 2 “Appendix A - Specifications. ittaa Append B - Thermistor Temperature DesWalOM.sennvsennne 23 “Appendix C~ An Aitems Method for Installation in Fil......24 Appendix D. Temperature Effect on Farth Pressure and Conerete ‘Stress Cells- Some Theoretical Consideration. ..u.25Figure | - Stress Redistribution, Weak Soil with Stiff Cel... Figure 2 - Stress Redistribution, Strong Soil with tif Cll Figure 3 - Stress Redistribution, Stiff Sil with Weak Cel. Figure 4 - Model 4800 Rectangular arth Pressure Cell Figure $ - Model 4800 Citeular Earth Pressure Cel. Figure 6 - Model 4810 Contact Pressure Cel Figure 7 - Model 4820 Jack-Out Pressure Cell Figure 8 - Model 4800 Farth Pressure Cell Installation, Figure 9 - Attachment of Model 4810 to Concrete Fort Figure 10 - Model 4810 Contact Pressure Cell Installation. Figure 11 - Model 4820 Jack-Out Pressure Cell Installation. Figure 12 - Model 4850-2 Concrete Stress Cell Installation Figure 13 - Sample Model 4800 Calibration Sheet... ‘Table I - Engineering Units Multiplication Factors ‘able A-1 Earth Pressure Cell Specifications. ‘Table B-l Themstor Resistance versus Temperature. Equation 1 - Digits Caleultion non Equation 2 - Convert Digits to Pressure Equation 3 - Temperature Correction... Equation 4 - Thermally Corected Pressure Calculation .w. [Equation B-1 Convert Thermistor Resistance to Temperature. 8 » 19 23AANTRODUCTION Li. Theory of Operation Earth Pressure Cells, sometimes called Total Pressure Cells or Total Stress Cells are designed to ‘measure stresses in soil othe pressure of sol on structures. Cells will respond not only to soil ‘pressures but also to ground water pressures orto pore water pressure, hence te tr ot ‘pressure or ftal tess. A simultaneous measurement of pore water pressure (j), using a piezometer, s necessary to separate the effective stress (6) fom the total stress (as defined by ‘Terzaghis principle of effective stresses where; fea ‘These parameters coupled with the soil stength characteristics will determine soil behavior under loads arth pressure cells ofthe type described here are the hydraulic type: two flat plates are welded together at their periphery and are separated by a small gap fil with a hydraulic Mud. The cath pressure act o squeeze the two plates together thus builling up a pressure inside the fui. the pats are flexible enough, ie. if they are thin enough relative to ther lateral extent, then st the ceerfthe the uporing eff he weld pithy ete and itcan be stated that atthe center of the cel the external sol pressure is exactly blanced by the interaa ‘uid pressure, ‘This is tre ony ifthe deflection of the plates is kept toa minimum and thus it is important that the cll should bea compres should also be sifThaving very litle volume change under inceasing pressure. ‘Tests conducted by various researchers (as reported by Dunniclf, 1988) have shown that the introduction ofa flat stress cell into a sil mass will alter the sess field in a way dependent on the relative stiffness ofthe cell with respect othe sol and asc with respect to the aspect ratio of the cll, ie. the rato of the width ofthe cell tits thickness. thik cell will alter the stress more than a thin ell. Hence, for these reasons, thin, tf cells best and studies have shown an aspect ration ofa least 20to | tobe desirable deally, the cell ough to be as stiff (compressible) as the soil. But in practice this is dificult to achieve. If the cell is stiffer (less compressible) than the sol then it ill verregister the soi pressure because ofa zone of sil immediatly around the cell which i sheltered” by the cll so that it doesnot experience the fll soil pressure. This ean be represented schematically as shown in Figuee |[igure L- Stress Redistribution, Weak Soi with Stiff Cell ‘As canbe seen ther isa stress concentration atthe rigid im but inthe centr of the cll he soil stress is only slightly higher than the mean soil stress, e. ony slightly higher than the stress ‘Which would obtain were the ell not present. Ina stronger sol the de-sressed zone around the edge ofthe cell is more extensive and hence at the center ofthe cll the degree of over-regsration ofthe mean stress i greater. Ths is represented schematically in Figure 2 ae eel Stress Redistribution, rong Soil with Stiff Cell {Inc sift sil the cell may be less stiff (more compressible) than the sil in which ease the cell ‘will under-regstr the mean soil stress asthe stresses in the sol tend to "bridge" around the cell ‘Thi is represented schematically in Figure 3 eee NNT Figure 3 - Suuss Redistribution, ull Soil with Weak Ce‘Tests conducted atthe University of Ohio (Ohio, USA) with several different soil types have sown that for Geokon cells the maximum degree of over or under-registation amounts 15% of he mean soil stress, (Other factors shouldbe kept in mind; the inherent variability of sol properties which give rise to ‘varying sol stresses at different locations and a comesponding difficulty in geting a good sample of he mean stress fom a limited numberof cell locations. Also, the response of the cello its ‘immediate surroundings depends very largely on how closely the sil mass immediately around the cell has the same stiffness or compressibility or the same degree of compaction a the ‘undisturbed soil mass. Installation methods will need to pay particular attention this detail 1.2 Earth Pressure Cell Design Eath Pressure Cells are constrcted from two stainless steel plates welded together around the pesiphery so as to leave a narrow space between them. This space is completely filled with de- sired hydraulic ol which is connected hydraulically toa pressure transducer where the oil pressure is converted to an electcalsigal which is ransaitted through a signal cable to the readout location, In general Geokon Earth Pressure Cells we an all welded construction so tht the space confining the oil is entirely metal not requiring ‘rings which ten to tap air and reduce the cel stifness. The oil is desired using a Nold DeAerator™ which materially improves the fluid stiffness and ‘theperformance ofthe cell. The pressure transducer normally employed isthe Geokon Model -4500H which is available in several different pressure ranges (see Table A-1). The cable is attached tothe transducer ina sealed, water-resistant manner. For earth pressure cells located inside a soil mass the cable may be armored and provided with stain relief atthe cello reduce ‘the ikelibood of pull-out Inside the vibrating wire pressure transducer housing a thermistor is also located fo the measurement of temperature tthe cell location. In addition, atipoar plasma surge arrestor ‘nse the transducer housing protects the vibrating wire pluck and read coils fom electrical ‘transients suchas may be induced by director indirect lightning strikes. _Altemative pressure transducers with voltage (0-100 mV, 0-5 VDC, 0-10 VDO) or current (4-20 ‘mA) output are also available for dynamic readout capability. Consult the factory for additional information.6 1.3. Earth Pressure Cell Construction “Major components ofthe Model 4800 (rectangular and circular), 4810 and 4820 Earth Pressure Cells are shown in Figures 4 through 7, respectively. ‘The Model 4800 Earth Pressure Cells may be rectangular or ercular in shape. The standard size forthe rectangular Model 4800 is 150 mm x 250 mm (6° x 10"), for the cirularit is 230 mm (0") in diameter Standard thickness for bot styles is 6 mm (aspect ration > 20) For laboratory {ests smaller, thinner cells can be manufactured, Contact the factory for additional information. Prag col Tanti owing ers cable omar AN) amen j=mmo Figure 4 - Model 4 aco ANG)7 ‘The Model 4810 Earth Pressure Cell or “contact” cells designed for measuring sil pressures on structures. One of the plates is thick and designed to bear against the extemal surface ofthe structure in a way that wil prevent flexure of the cell. The other plate is thin and react othe soil pressure. cot Tate vowing erent Cab wezoaegr 2240) a m ‘The Model 4820 Earth Pressure Cello "ack-out cells designed specifically forthe ‘measurement of sol pressures on the back sie of slurry walls. The pressure transduce housing, is connected directly and perpendicular tothe thick back plate. cages semen Epes ornate s)ation commences, to check the cells for proper functioning. Each cel is supplied with calibration sheet (Figure 12) which shouts the relationship between readout gts and pressure and also shows the initial no load zero reading. The cll electrical lads (sualy the red and black leads) are connected to a readout box (se section 3) and the 20 reading given on the sheets now compared toa curent zero reading. The two readings should ‘ot dif by more than ~50 digits after due regard to corrections made fr different temperatures, ‘barometric pressures and height above sea level and actual cell postion (whether standing up oF laying down), By pressing onthe cel it shouldbe possible to change the readout digits, causing them ofall as ‘the pressure i increased. Checks of electrical continuity can also be made using an ohmmete. Resistance between the ‘gage leis shouldbe approximately 180 ohms, + 5%. Remember to add cable resistance when checking (22.AWG stranded copper leads are approximately 14,70/1000' or 48.S6Qkm multiply ‘by? for both directions). Between the green and white should be approximately 3000 chms at 25 (se Table B-1), and between any conductor andthe shield should exceed 20 megoim. 2, Pressure Cell Inst tion 22.1. Installation of Model 4800 Earth Pressure Cells Inside Fills & Embankments ‘See Also Appendix 3 ‘This seston details installation instructions for the Model 4800 Earth Pressure Cell forthe ‘measurement of total stress in earth or rock fills and embankments. These procedures ae only {or cells totally surrounded by earth. Where contact stresses betwoen eath and astuctre are required see section 2.24. Earth pressure cells are normaly installed withthe fa surfs horizontal to measure vertical stresses. However, they canbe placed at other orientations, inside ‘the fil, to measure stresses in other directions Le. a cell placed withthe flat surfaces vertical will ‘measure horizontal stresses ina direction perpendicular othe plates ofthe cell, ‘The poston and orientation ofthe cells canbe maintained during installation by means of plywooi templates. These templates can be removed by hand after the sand o fine matrial ‘immediately surounding the cells have been placed and carefully hand-compacted, ‘When installing the cells iti important to avoid direct contact wit large rocks. Such contact could ecally deform the pats o such an extent thatthe tw plates are pinched togehe: so that the external pressure is no longer transmitted entirely to the interior fluid, For this ease, al ‘chunks larger than 10 mm (=0.5") should be removed from the material immediatly surounding the cell Itis preferable to surround the cel using the material ofthe fll rather than another ‘materia (e.g sand) since the stifnes, if the compaction is performed propery, will cocform better to the rest of the fill% In areas containing appreciable coarse material, the lenses of fine material should be enclosed in ‘transitional layers of sucessvely coarser material in order to establish graduation outward to ‘the maximum size mata Zane an fe a (coefficients caleulated over the -50 to +150°C. span) B=2369 x10 C=1019 «107 APPENDIX C An alternative Method for Installing Karth Pressure Cel in visPy ‘The method described in Section 22.1 sulers from the drawback that itis very dificult, ifnot Impossible, to get perfect compaction ofthe sol around the cells without running the risk of damaging the cell ‘Analtemative method, used suocessflly in South Aftea [1], essentially uses the eehniques described in section 2.2.4: Installation ofthe cells begins when the fil has reached a height of 800mm above the instrument level. The Instrument location and the cable trenches are excavated SO0mm deep, «pocket, with 45° sloping sides, of ony a further 300mm depth i required tobe excavated a theinstrument location, The cells, (Model 3600 complet with pinch tubes), are positioned on a thin layer of non-shrinksand-cement grout and are nailed in position using the lugs on the cell provided for ‘this purpose. The excavated pocket is then backfilled witha weak concrete (19mm aggregate) in 100mm layers, vibrated with a poker vibrator After 24 hours the cell are pressurize, by pinching the pinch tubes until the pressure inthe cell, displayed on a connected Readout Box, Starts to cbange . ‘The instrument location containing the grouted cells and te cable trench is then backfilled in 100mm layers, using the techniques described in Section 22.1, Each laver is compacted by a ‘vibratory trench roller. After tis, standard construction filling and compaction practices can continue. {1}, Oostizen, C, Naud, PA. & Hatingh, IC. 2003, Total and Pore Ces: Metiod inthe “Madess. Proceedings ofthe 6® Intemational Symposium on Field Measurements ‘Geomechanics 2003, Oslo Norway, 2003. Balkema,Ea ‘APPENDIX D. ‘Temy ffect on nd ‘Some Theoretieal Considerations ‘The following theoretical treatment is by no means rigorous - there ae some questionable assumptions and approximations —but it should give some ides of the magnitude of the thermal ‘effect to be expected on hydraulic earth pressure cells, buried in soil or installed a the contact ‘between sil and structure, and on conerete stress cells embedded in concrete. Consider a cirular cell of radius R containing a liquid film of thickness D, coefficient of thermal ‘expansion Kppm/"C, and bulk modulus G, For a temperature rise of 1° C the expansion, Yof the liquid film is given bythe equation: Yr=KD o Expansion ofthe liquid is resisted by the confinement ofthe surrounding medium (soi or ‘concrete and this eauses pressire rise, P, in the liquid and a compression ofthe liquid, Yo, siven by the equation: ve DIG ss @ So thatthe net expansion, Y, ofthe cel is equa to: Y=DK-PIG).. Liquid pressure inside the cel euses deformation ofthe surrounding medium. The amount of -deformation canbe quantified by modification of formulas found in [1], where the deformation, Y, produced by a uniform pressure P acting on a circular area, R radius, onthe surface of a material with modulus of elasticity, E, and Poissons ratio, v, is given by y-2pRa¥) st the center E And Y=4PROv atthe edge ne “And the difrenve is FRO) Q-4inyE26 ‘The above formulas apply to pressures acting ona free surface. However, inthe confined case, YY, at the edge ofthe cell, car be assumed to be nearly zero and so Y, atthe center, is assumed to ea PROV) (2-4fx) i.e. the same difference as before. E Ifthe average Y, across the calls assumed to be half this value and ifthe deformation ofthe ‘medium on either side ofthe cell is assumed tobe the same then the average total expansion of the ells given by: Y= 073 PR (v4) x05 x2/8 = 0.73 PROVE. ® Equating © & © gives: P(DIG+0.73 R(L-v'VE) one side ofthe cel ics in contact with argid structure, eg. «conercte otining wall ora ‘sonore bridge footing, then ERO) x05 =0.36 PRU YE And P (DIG +036R ("VE)= KD ° ‘Where E pestis tothe soil mats. ince these expressions ar only approxinate they canbe simplified even further: fr all B< 10x 10° psi the term D/Gis negligible so lng as he els designed and constuced propery, i.e, G isla, (oo ar trapped inside the cel), ad Dis smal, Also the term (1-7) can be replaced by 091 sine vu ies between 0.28 and 0.35, Hence, for ttl embedment SEKDIR psi/°C -And, for contact pressure cells: P EKDIR psi/*C2 ‘Some typical values ofthe various parameters are: Tigaia Kx7ec on 700 Mere 180) ‘Water 170) ‘Glycol 650 50/50 Giyeal Water 400 Timbediment Material [Exp v Plastic Cla 0.005, Soil TOOT wo 0.02 [REA] 02510 045 ‘Send 0.02 to 0.06 Ref 3] (2810035, Compacted Ovawa Sand 02 ‘Weathered Rock Corte 0.11 REG Concrete 50 ied Examples, For an oil-filled cell, 9 inches diameter and D~ 0.060 inches, totally embelded in 1. Plastic Clay, P= 0.042 psi/*C 2. Soil, medium stiffness, P = 0.138 psi /SC 13. Coarse Sand, P= 069 psi/*C (or contact pressure cells, multiply the above values for Pby 2.) Fora concrete ses el 9 inch damete and D= 0.020 inches 4. Concrete, E=5x 10% psi, v0.25 Pm 22.7 psi! °C ‘Same cell, embedded in conerete, filled with mercury instead of oil, ..« P= 5.8 psi/*C Foran oil-filled cll embedded ina completely rigid medium 210 psi °C For amercury-illed cal embedded in a completely rigid medium 650 psi °C References: [1] Roark, RJ. and Young, W.C. “ Formulas for Suess and Strain,” MeGrew Hil fifth edition, 1982, p 519, {2] Weiler, W.A. and Kulhawy, FH.“ Factors Affecting Stress Cell Measrement in Sil” J Geotech. Eng. Div. ASCE . Vol 108, No. GTI2, Dec, ppt529-1548, [3] Lazebnik, GE, “Monitoring of Soil-Structure Interaction.” Chapman d Hall pp 224 [4] Fujiyasu, ¥. and Orihara, K. “Elastic Modulus of Weathered Rock” Proc. ofthe 5* Int ‘Symp. on Field Measurements in Geomechanics - Singapore 1999. p 183ee ey