File Name
Vibrating Wire Piezometer Manual
Resource Type
Manual| Language | Version | Download |
|---|---|---|
| English | ELM0005U |
|
Vibrating Wire Piezometer
The RST Vibrating Wire Piezometer provides excellent long-term accuracy, stability of readings and reliability under demanding geotechnical conditions.
Overview
The RST Vibrating Wire Piezometer provides excellent long-term accuracy, stability of readings, and reliability under demanding geotechnical conditions. Vibrating Wire Piezometers are the electrical piezometers of choice as the frequency output of VW devices is immune to external electrical noise and able to tolerate wet wiring common in geotechnical applications.
Vibrating Wire Piezometers contain a high tensile steel wire with a fixed anchor at one end and are attached to a diaphragm in contact with water pressure at the other end. The wire is electrically plucked, with the resonant frequency of vibration proportional to the tension in the wire. This frequency induces an alternating current in a coil which is detected by the readout unit, such as the VW2106 Vibrating Wire Readout, and can then be converted to a pressure. The frequency output is immune to external electrical noise.
The frequency signal is exceptionally immune from cable effects, including length (to several kilometers), splicing, resistance, noise pickup, and moisture. The vibrating wire coil circuit contains no semiconductor devices and has built-in ionized gas discharge device protection against transient damage. As a result, the vibrating wire piezometer provides excellent reliability in typical geotechnical situations – i.e. long outdoor cables buried in saturated soil.
The piezometer is equipped with a standard sintered stainless steel porous filter to prevent soil particles from contacting the diaphragm. A thermistor is built into the piezometer body to permit temperature measurement and temperature compensation of the piezometer. Standard construction is all stainless steel. RST vibrating wire piezometers are shipped with extremely tough polyurethane-jacketed foil-shielded cable for maximum endurance in field conditions.
Download Vibrating Wire Piezometer Calibration Files
Vibrating Wire Piezometer Specifications
| ITEM | SPECIFICATION |
| Over range | 2 X F.S. |
| Resolution | 0.025% F.S. minimum |
| Accuracy | 0.1% F.S. |
| Linearity | <0.5% F.S. |
| Operating Temperature | -20 to 80°C (-4 to 176°F) |
| Diaphragm Displacement | <0.001 cc at F.S. |
| Thermal Zero Shift | <0.05% F.S./°C |
| Materials | Hermetically sealed stainless steel housing |
| Thermistor Type | NTC 3K Ohms @ 25°C |
| Thermistor Interchangeability | ±0.2°C |
| Thermistor Resolution | 0.1°C |
| Filter | 50 micron sintered filter. (High air entry alumina filter 1 Bar available) |
Electrical Cable Specifications
| PART # | DESCRIPTION |
| EL380004 | Two twisted pairs cable with polyurethane jacket |
| EL380004HDL | Two twisted pairs heavy-duty cable with a thick polyurethane jacket mold for added protection |
| EL380004K | Two twisted pairs Kevlar® reinforced, non-stretch polyurethane jacketed cable for rigorous installations where the stretching of cable is a concern |
*Other types of cables, depending on site conditions and atmospheric reference requirements, are available upon request. These include vented, FEP, PVC, polyurethane, and armored varieties.
Vibrating Wire Piezometers are commonly used for:
- Assessing performance and investigating stability of earth fill dams and embankments.
- Slope stability investigations.
- Monitoring water levels in wells and standpipes.
- Monitoring pressures behind retaining walls and diaphragm walls.
- Monitoring pore pressures during fill or excavation.
- Monitoring pore pressure in land reclamation applications.
View illustrations on how Vibrating Wire Piezometers are used for:
Vibrating Wire Piezometer Ordering Info
| PART # | DESCRIPTION | PRESSURE RANGE | DIMENSION |
| VW2100 | Standard model for general applications | 0.35, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 MPa | 19 mm Ø X 130 mm |
| VW2100-HD | Heavy duty piezometer for direct burial in fills and large dam embankments or for high pressure borehole installations | 0.35, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0 3.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10, 20 MPa | 25.4 mm Ø X 146 mm |
| VW2100-DPC | Drive point model with CPT thread | 0.07, 0.175, 0.35, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.5 MPa | 33.4 mm Ø X 508 mm |
| VW2100-DPEW | Drive point model with EW thread | 0.07, 0.175, 0.35, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.5 MPa | 34.6 mm Ø (body) X 304.8 mm |
| VW2100-L | Low Pressure, unvented | 70, 175 kPa | 25 mm Ø X 133 mm |
| VW2100-M | Miniature version – 17.5 mm diameter | 0.35, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 MPa | 17.5 mm Ø X 133 mm |
| VW2100-MM | Micro-miniature version – 11.1 mm diameter | 0.35, 0.7 MPa | 11.1 mm Ø X 165 mm |
| VW2190 | Heavy duty piezometer with bladder for brine environment | 0.07, 0.175, 0.35, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.5 MPa | 42 mm Ø X 319 mm |
| VW2191 | Heavy duty piezometer with bladder for acidic environment with secondary corrosion protection | 0.07, 0.175, 0.35, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.5 MPa | 42 mm Ø X 319 mm |
Optional Equipment
| VW2106 Vibrating Wire Readout |
| Data loggers |
| Cable splice kits |
Vibrating Wire Piezometer Stock Length
| PART # |
DESCRIPTION- PRESSURE RANGE |
CABLE LENGTH |
| VW2100-0.35-L20 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 0.35 MPa | 20m |
| VW2100-0.35-L30 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 0.35 MPa | 30m |
| VW2100-0.35-L40 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 0.35 MPa | 40m |
| VW2100-0.35-L50 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 0.35 MPa | 50m |
| VW2100-0.7-L30 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 0.7 MPa | 30m |
| VW2100-0.7-L50 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 0.7 MPa | 50m |
| VW2100-0.7-L75 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 0.7 MPa | 75m |
| VW2100-1.0-L50 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 1.0 MPa | 50m |
| VW2100-1.0-L75 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 1.0 MPa | 75m |
| VW2100-1.0-L100 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 1.0 MPa | 100m |
| VW2100-1.0-L150 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 1.0 MPa | 150m |
| VW2100-2.0-L100 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 2.0 MPa | 100m |
| VW2100-2.0-L150 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 2.0 MPa | 150m |
| VW2100-2.0-L200 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 2.0 MPa | 200m |
| VW2100-3.0-L250 | VIBRATING WIRE PIEZOMETER 3.0 MPa | 250m |
File Name
Vibrating Wire Piezometer
Resource Type
Brochure| Language | Version | Download |
|---|---|---|
| English | ELB0055 |
|
| Portuguese | VWB0002B |
|
| Spanish | ELB0069F |
|
File Name
Vibrating Wire Piezometer Calibration Record
Resource Type
Record Download Site| Language | Version | Download |
|---|---|---|
| English | Link |
|
Speak with an Expert
RST has been one of our trusted partners for years in providing solutions to a wide range of our instrumentation needs—from the prompt shipment of piezometers and inclinometer casing, to the annual calibration of our inclinometer systems. RST takes the time to learn about our projects and provides value by collaborating with us on our monitoring strategy.
-Elke Declercq, Geotechnical Dept – Flemish Government