Instrumentation for a consolidation study of a clay deposit beneath an embankment

Abstract

In order to instrument a deep clay deposit for measurements of consolidation beneath a 23-ft-high embankment, it was necessary to develop a settlement gauge which could be installed just below the natural ground surface before the embankment was constructed. The Paper presents the considerations involved in the design of such a gauge and describes the one finally adopted. Measurements of settlements between the natural ground surface and reference elevations within the clay deposit are made by determining electrical resistances which are proportional to vertical displacements. This is accomplished by the simple gearing of a chain and sprocket to the shaft of a spirally wound potentiometer. By a judicious choice of potentiometer and sprocket pitch diameter it is possible to determine displacements to an accuracy of 0·05 in. or 1·3 mm. The field installation is described in detail and, finally, time-settlement curves for four gauges are shown. © 1959, Thomas Telford Ltd. All rights reserved.