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.
As part of soil investigation programs, our vibrating-wire push-in pressure cells can be simply pushed into soil to measure total earth pressure and pore water pressure. Once in place, these pressure cells also monitor changes in active and passive pressure.
For monitoring stress change in soft rocks, RST’s borehole pressure cells, made for use in elastic and viscoelastic rock, consist in a flat pressure cell that measures stress in the plane perpendicular to the cell, and that can be used for monoaxial measurements or in groups of three in the same borehole for biaxial measurements of the two principal stresses. When used in rocks that exhibit plastic creep, the cell will not only measure stress change, but the final equilibrium pressure will approximate the in-situ stress as well.
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