Bristol uses eddy currents to measures soil movement 16 August 2012

High precision eddy current sensors are being used to measure the displacement of soil samples on an HCTA (hollow cylindrical torsional apparatus) in the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Bristol.

The HCTA has been equipped with a strain measurement system that incorporates six Micro-Epsilon eddyNCDT 3010 high-resolution, non-contact displacement sensors.

Dr Erdin Ibraim, reader in geomechanics at the Department of Civil Engineering at University of Bristol, explains that the test rig is aimed at studying pre-failure deformation characteristics and large strains behaviour to establish soil stiffness.

"The HCTA at Bristol ... incorporates a complex measurement system and so the eddy current sensors were selected for their excellent technical qualities, including high resolution, linearity and long-term stability," states Ibraim.

In brief detail, they have been mounted on the HCTA's small strain measurement system in three pairs to measure the axial, circumferential and radial displacement of the soil samples.

Sensor measuring range is 2mm while resolution is 0.1µm and linearity is +/- 0.25% FSO.

Brian Tinham

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