Reference:

IRCPK200372

Organization:

Cracow University of Technology

IRC Name:

IRC South Poland

Country:

Poland

Entry Date:

Tue, May 27, 2003

Last Update:

Deadline:

Thu, May 20, 2004

Abstract:
A small Polish research institute has developed a system for long-term monitoring of soil and rock displacements. The system consists of several transducers installed in the media being measured and an automatic electronic meter-recorder. The institute is looking for industrial and research partners interested in application, manufacturing and further development of the system.

Description:
The system developed by a Polish research institute consists of a vibrating-wire transducer of displacements (or a set of them) and an appropriate electronic meter-recorder. The transducers are intended for being installed in soil or in rock mass. Because of the functioning principle and the special construction the transducers retain good metrological properties over long-term functioning i.e. lasting tens of years.
Three types of transducers have been developed. Every construction consists of a measuring head, a range adjuster, a string and two anchors. The head and the adjuster are attached to the anchors and connected with the string. The anchors secure good contact with soil or rock mass. The string is protected with a piece of elastic tube. Its length determines a measuring base ? the distance of the anchors, usually equal to a few meters. Changes in the distance are transferred by the string and the head's mechanical system to a vibrating wire, provoking a change in its tension. The tension can be measured as a function of the wire's free vibration frequency. The measurement is realised by means of an electromagnet, first stimulating the wire vibrations and then transforming them to an electric signal. The terminals of the electromagnet are linked with the meter-recorder by a cable.
The meter-recorder is a hand-held battery-powered instrument for measuring displacements and other physical quantities by using appropriate vibrating-wire transducers. It is controlled by a microprocessor and can perform measuring cycles in three modes: manual, automatic and remote. Each mode is pre-programmed. The measurements results are presented on a display and stored in the memory. The completed data can be periodically transmitted to a PC for further processing. The instrument can control an attachable input multiplexer (switch) that makes it possible to connect max. 80 transducers.
The system can be applied in such fields as civil engineering, mining, geotechnological observations and as a complement to geodesic measurements.

Innovative Aspects:
The system makes it possible to perform cyclic measurement of displacements over long-term fully automatic functioning. The measurement data can be easily transmitted to a PC. Because of a special construction the system can be useful in almost every environmental conditions.

Main Advantages:
The system has been intended for long-term measurements. Its elements retain good parameters and high operational reliability over many years. Therefore the system does not need being serviced. As it has been proved in practice, even the instruments that have been removed from one place can still be re-installed at another one.

Technology Keywords:

Civil engineering
Geology, Geological Engineering, Geotechnics
Electrical Technology related to measurements
Mechanical Technology related to measurements
Sensor Technology related to measurements

Current Stage of Development:

Available for demonstration

Exploitation of RTD Results:

NATIONAL PROG.

Intellectual Property Rights:

Secret know-how

Comments

Organisation/Company Type:

Research institute/University

Organisation/Company Size:

50-249

Brief Market Application Codes:

Electronics, microelectronics
Measurement methods
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
MEASUREMENTS AND STANDARDS

Comments

Detailed Market Application Codes (VEIC):

Keywords

Other analytical and scientific instrumentation
Exploration Services
Coal mining
Industrial measurement and sensing equipment
Mining (non-energy related)

Highlights
Monitoring of soil subsidence in areas of mining exploitation
Monitoring of landslides

Collaboration Type:

Technical Co-operation
Joint venture agreement
License agreement

Comments
The institute is looking for industrial and researching partners interested in application, manufacturing and further development of the system.

Preferred Countries for diffusion:

ALL

Associated Thematic Group:

Additional Information:

Contact Name:

Biernakiewicz

Contact First name:

Tomasz

Phone:

+48 12 6282845

Fax:

+48 12 632 47 95

Email:

tbiernakiewicz@transfer.edu.pl