Soil pressure monitoring
Soil pressure monitoring is a technique used to measure and monitor the stress-deformations, or loads applied to a soil mass. This technique can be used to measure any type of movement in the soil such as ground heave, subsidence, compression, or lateral displacement. Soil pressure monitoring can be used on a variety of soil types, ranging from sand to clay. It provide important data for decision making, to investigate the impact of excavation, construction or natural disasters in soil stability.
The method of soil pressure monitoring use different types of instruments depending on the targets and goals of the monitoring program. This includes, inclinometers, extensometers, and piezometers, that are positioned in the soil mass and measure the displacement under the applicable load. The sensors can be used in a variety of positions, from a large scale study of a project, to a small, localized study.
Inclinometers measure the lateral displacement of the soil and can be used for complex cases such as landslides, embankments, sinkholes, and other failure cases. If a large scale incline project needs to be monitored, multiple inclinometers will be set up in the exact same locations to measure the movement with reference to the established baseline.
Extensometers measure the compression and strain within the soil, which can be used to create a profile of the stress within the soil. This can then be used to plot any changes or slope failures in the soil. Extensometers are usually set up in a series of points along a survey line and are used to measure any movement in the soil along the line.
Piezometers measure the hydraulic pressure within the soil, which can be used to measure the soils response to changes in external loading. Piezometers can be used to measure the water pressure within a soil mass and detect any changes. This will allow for the study of water infiltration and how the changes in water pressure alter the stress within the soil.
Soil pressure monitoring is a critical method for understanding soil behaviour and for understanding how a soil is affected by external loading. The data collected from a soil pressure monitoring program can provide important insight and inform decisions about further excavation or construction activities. Moreover, soil pressure monitoring can be used to investigate any natural disasters that occur in an area. This can be done by recording any changes in the soil pressure before and after the event. This will allow for an understanding of how the soils responded to the disaster and provide insight into possible mitigation strategies.
In conclusion, soil pressure monitoring is a useful technique for understanding and monitoring soil behaviour. It provide data which can be used to inform decisions, study the impacts of excavation and construction, and investigate natural disasters. This technique can be used on a variety of soil types, and has the potential to provide important information that can be used to prevent and mitigate negative impacts on the soil.
