Pressure cells, are used to measure total pressure in soils, rock and concrete and at the interface between soil and natural or concrete abutment structures, as well as on foundation contacts. The knowledge of total pressure, in addition to pore pressure and deformations, is an essential component for the complete understanding of ground behaviour as well as the calibration of numerical models.
RST’s Total Earth Pressure Cells are best for applications in soils such as earth embankments, dams, foundations, retaining walls, and piles. They can be supplied in a choice of two diameters and with mounting ears if required to be directly mounted to a contact surface.
Vibrating Wire Push-In Pressure Cells can also be supplied to support soil investigation programs, and can be simply pushed into soil to measure both total earth pressure and pore water pressure. Once in place, these Pressure Cells also monitor changes in active and passive pressure.
Both models of Pressure Cell can be supplied in a wide variety of calibrated pressure ranges to suit the expected pressures of the application.
As the sensors are Vibrating Wire in technology, they can easily be monitored either manually using an RST VW2106 Vibrating Wire Readout. For a fully automated system, they can used together with an RSTAR Affinity Datalogger and RSTAR Affinity Gateway for remote access to the data.
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
