Crack Meters are employed in multiple geotechnical construction applications to monitor movement in structures along surface cracks or construction joints. Crack Meters are primarily used during the construction of mass concrete structures such as dams, bridges, and retaining walls.
When installed, Crack Meters record and monitor any structural changes caused by geotechnical activity, allowing for ongoing oversight of structural integrity.
Crack Meters consist of two mounting anchors, each of which is secured to either side of the joint or crack to measure displacement. The anchors are connected with a Vibrating Wire displacement transducer which can be supplied in varying options of measuring range between 25mm and 200mm.
If movement occurs within the structure causing the distance between the anchors on either side of the joint or crack to change, this change of distance will accurately be measured by the Vibrating Wire transducer. Crack Meters can also be used to trigger an alarm if structural movement exceeds a pre-set maximum displacement.
A 3D Crack Meter model is also available for situations where an X, Y and Z axial measurement are of importance such as structural joints which may encounter multi-directional deformation.
An accurate history of this movement can be recorded using an RST VW2106 Vibrating Wire Readout or RSTAR Affinity Data Logger together with an RSTAR Affinity Gateway for a fully automated system. Trigger alarms can then be set within the RSTAR Affinity Data Platform.
I’m very happy with the quality of the instrumentation and technical support from RST, as always. They worked with us from the initial stages of the project to ensure that we were fully prepared and equipped to use the RSTAR network for the first time. They delivered everything within the tight project time frame to ensure that there were no delays on site, and the submersible tilt meters looked like new even after over twelve months of being submerged in Thames water!
-Richard Lipscombe, BEng (Hons), Director & Principle Consultant - RL Geotechnical Ltd