Earth pressure measurement

Two general types of measurements are taken

Stresses in a soil mass
Stresses on a boundary at soil structure interface.

Earth pressure cell design requirements

When an earth pressure cell is introduced into a soil mass the
stress field in the vicinity of the cell is modified owing to
redistribution of stresses.
It is this modified stress field which is recorded by the cell.
The basic problem in earth pressure cell design is to obtain a
measure of the stress which would have existed in the ground
had the pressure cell not been inserted.

Pe/P= B/D(N/Es-N/Ec)
1+B/D* N/Ec
Where P is the field stress existing at the plane of
the cell in absence of cell
Es is stress/ strain modulas of soil
Ec is stress/strain modulas of the cell
D is diameter of cell
B is half thickness of the cell
N is a property of the soil such that N/D is analogous
to coeff. of subgrade reaction.

Types of earth pressure cell.

The most popular cell has been that consisting of a diaphragm.
Some Other cells rely on a rigid piston sensing element while a
very flexible cell unit is also used.
Electrical earth pressure cell
The diaphragm type total earth pressure cell, the deflection
of the diaphragm is also measured and by calibration the
pressure can be related to the diaphragm deflection. The
central deflection of the diaphragm is usually limited to less
than 1/2000 times the diameter.

Methods used
Strain gauges( electrical resistance)
Vibrating wire gauges.

Strain gauges( electrical resistance)system

With this system the cell error occurs due to cross
sensitivity.
Cross stress is meant a stress acting in the plane of the
diaphragm eg. an earth pressure cell measuring the horizontal
stress beneath a loaded foundation.
Even where the outer ring is very stiff the cell may still be
sensitive to cross stresses because the cross stresses causes
the diaphragm to be loaded in compression.
The error is maximum when the cross stress acts in the
direction of the measurement of the gauge.
The error due to cross sensitivity can be minimized by the
arrangement of the strain gauges.

Vibrating wire gauge

The cell comprises a rigid housing and a circular membrane.
The membrane has two protruding arms between which the
gauge wire is stretched.
When the external pressure is applied to the membrane, the
protruding arms rotates slightly and cause an increase of
stress in the gauge wire.
Thus a change in frequency of the gauge wire is caused and by
calibration a measure in change of the average earth pressure
acting on the membrane is obtained.
For the measurement of stress in earth fill the cell is
attached to a steel plate so that the membrane is flush with
one side of steel plate.

Hydraulic cells
A hydraulic sensing pad is embedded within the soil.
The stresses in the soil surrounding the sensing pad applies
pressure to the pad and this pressure is measured by a
mechanical technique.
The sensing pad which may be circular or rectangular shaped,
has large area to thickness ratio.
Thus it is a very thin disc and consequently stress distortion
effects due to variation in the modulus of the sensor pad and
the soil are very small.
Thus the unknown stress acting on the cell boundary or in the
soil mass is measured by determining the hydraulic pressure in
the connecting tubing.

A small and constant volume of oil is pumped through the cell

and when the line pressure equals the pressure in the field in
the cell, the pressure diaphragm in the pressure chamber
deflects and thus permits oil to flow through the bypass
orifice and into return line.
The pressure in the supply line cannot increase further and
hence the cell pressure is equal to the line pressure at the
entrance to the bypass chamber .
Because the pump may be at a very different elevation at the
cell unit a gauge elevation correction equal the the difference
in elevation of the cell and pressure measuring transducer
times the specific gravity of the oil, must be applied.

The oil in the cell is pressurised.

Thus the resultant earth pressure is equal to the bypass gauge
pressure plus gauge elevation correction minus the zero gauge
reading.
eg is the Goltz cell

Main advantages
It is simple and contains no delicate parts
Long term reliable measurements are possible
Corrections are simple to determine and apply gauge unit
is cheap
The return line may be connected to several cells

EARTH AND CONCRETE PRESSURE CELL

Earth and concrete pressure cell is designed to measure total
pressure in earth fills and embankments; as well as pressure
on the surface of retaining walls, buildings, bridge abutments,
tunnel linings and to measure stress in mass concrete.
Important Features:
Accurate, robust and low cost
Long term stability with high reliability
High sensitivity and wide pressure range
Low volumetric displacement
Ease in data logging
Thermistor included for temperature measurement

Earth Pressure Installed in fill for soil measurement in three direction

SHOTCRETE-CONCRETE STRESS CELL

The 'New Austrian Tunneling Method' (NATM), calls for the
support of a tunnel by the rapid application of shotcrete to
the freshly exposed ground.
The theory behind this method of support, particularly useful
in weaker grounds, is that if the inherent strength of the
ground can be preserved, it will be almost self-supporting and
will require much less artificial support in the form of
concrete or steel.
Proper evaluation of total stress may help in:
the adequacy of the shotcrete lining, indicating the
need for perhaps more or less shotcrete to maintain stability.
verifying design assumptions that will promote safer and more
economical design and construction.

shotcrete-concrete stress cell is designed for the

measurement of radial or tangential stress in shotcrete tunnel
lining.
It is suitable for measurement of stress in the rock walls of
unlined caverns and pressure on & within the lining of
underground excavations.
It is used to assess the adequacy of shotcrete lining, for
monitoring back filling in mines and evaluating foundation
bearing pressures.

The stress cell basically consists of a flat rectangular capsule

comprising of two rectangular plates welded along the
periphery.
A narrow gap between the plates is filled with fluid using a
special process which guarantees that all the air is excluded.
Lugs are provided at the corners of the rectangular capsule to
facilitate holding the cell in plane while the shotcrete is
applied.
Pressure is sensed by a vibrating wire stainless steel body
pressure transducer connected to the flat circular capsule by
a stainless steel tube.

The pressure transducer incorporates the vibrating wire, the

coil magnet assembly and the cable joint housing.
The rigidity of the cell exceeds 50,000 MPa. This ensures
that it will respond immediately and accurately to the onset of
increasing concrete stress.
A thermistor inside the transducer housing allows the
temperature
to
be
read.
During concrete lining, temperatures very often rise and will
cause the cell to expand in the still green concrete.
On cooling, the capsule contracts, which, if allowed to remain
as such, would prevent the transmission of pressure from the
concrete to the cell.

A pinch tube is consequently provided to inflate the capsule

after the concrete around it has fully cured and has cooled
off to the ambient temperature.
One end of a 600 mm long pinch tube is welded to the
pressure transducer and the other end is capped.
Increase in stress in concrete causes a corresponding rise in
the fluid pressure as the rectangular steel plates are
squeezed together.
This is transmitted through the fluid to an internal integral
diaphragm, which forms part of the pressure transducer.

Attached to the other side of this diaphragm is a vibrating

wire strain gage.
Change in pressure causes the diaphragm to deflect, thus
altering the tension of the wire.
Any change in the tension of the wire, affects its resonant
frequency of vibration which is proportional to the pressure
acting on the cell.

Important features:
Easy installation
Stainless steel construction
Pinch tube for re-inflation in concrete
Rugged, waterproof and highly reliable
Vibrating wire pressure cell assures long term
stability, quick and easy readout
Thermistor included for temperature
measurement

JACKOUT PRESSURE CELL

Jack Out Earth Pressure Cells are used to measure active and passive
pressures on diaphragm walls.
Jack out Pressure Cells are used to measure earth pressures on slurry
walls.
They are designed to fit inside a plate which is pressed against the side of
a slurry wall excavation using a hydraulic jack arrangement.
This method of installation ensures that the jack out cell is located with
its sensitive face in contact with the adjacent soil.

Jackout Pressure Cell Hydraulic Jack Assembly

Jackout Pressure Cell Assembly Installed in Diaphragm Wall

Jack-out pressure cell is designed to measure the total stress

i.e. the effective stress due to the soil together with the pore
water pressure in the voids between soil grains.
It is suitable for measuring static or slowly varying stresses
only.