STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Fourth Year 2016-2017 Faculty of

Tanta University Engineering

Instrumentation and Monitoring of

Deep Excavation

‫االسم‬
‫ماجد السعيد محمد سالمه‬
Deep excavation:
A deep excavation is an excavation in soil or rock typically more than
15 ft (4.5m) deep. Deep excavations require careful design & planning
especially when constructed in urban areas. Retaining wall and support
system selection in deep excavations can have significant impact on time
cost and performance.

Geotechnical instrumentation – monitoring

Geotechnical instrumentation refers to to the instruments used to monitor

geotechnical projects or sites requiring such monitoring. Geotechnical
instrumentation and monitoring are essential for the successful completion
of a geotechnical projects. Limited geotechnical instrumentation may be
needed for simple projects but the demands on geotechnical
instrumentation and monitoring can be very demanding for critical projects
such as tunnels, slopes, and excavations next to sensitive structures.

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The principal parameters of interest in geotechnical monitoring are:

(1) structural and soil deformations.

(2) stresses acting on structural elements (wall and bracing).
(3) ground water pressures and inflows

Objectives of instrumentation and monitoring works

The instrumentation and monitoring works have itsrole right from the
feasibility study, through progressive construction and post construction
stages of any major project. It is appropriate to disseminate the
objectives of this significant work to all personnel involved in the
construction .

Factors to be considered in the design of an instrumentation

scheme:

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 Table lists the performance monitoring measured and what archived data
could be retrieved for each case study:

Geotechnical
Problem Parameter of Interest Possible measurement method

Trench stability Width of trench · Trench width gage

· Inclinometer

Trench verticality Alignment of sides of trench

· Inclinometer in temporary casing

Horizontal and vertical movement of

Guide wall stability
guide wall · Optical survey

Horizontal movement of ground or · Optical survey

wall · Inclinometer in wall or in soil
· Horizontal multipoint extensometer (HMPBX)
· Tape extensometer across the excavation
Ground and wall
movement
Vertical movement of ground or wall · Optical survey
· Subsurface settlement gage ie. Settlement rods or Multiple
Point Borehole Extensometers (MPBX)
· Photography
Movement of adjacent structures · Optical survey
· Tiltmeter
· Crack gage
Cross-lot bracing Loads in struts or braces
· Strain gage

Tieback load · Strain gage

Tieback bracing · Load gage

Anchor movement
· Telltale

Bottom heave or horizontal ground

Basal stability · Heave gage
movement
· Inclinometer

Groundwater level
· Observation well
Groundwater
Pore pressure
· Piezometer

Wall moments, axial forces, stresses in

wall or reinforcement · Strain gages
Advanced
information
Earth stresses
· Earth pressure cells

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 Total Earth Pressure Cell

TPC-4000 series Total Earth Pressure cells are designed to measure total
pressure (effective stress and pore water pressure) in soils and at the
interface between structures and the wall of excavation.

They are constructed from two stainless steel plates, welded around their
periphery with the narrow gap between the plates filled with hydraulic
fluid.

Models 4010 and 4020 are designed to measure soil pressures on

structures. It is fitted with an extra thick back plate on one side which
is placed against the structure so as to avoid any warping of the cell. The
other side has a thin plate welded to the back plate which provides

Diameter 120, 230, 300mm

Thickness 6mm, 12mm
Operating temp -20°C to +80°C

70, 170, 350, 700kPa, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7.5,

Range
20 MPa

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 NATM Pressure Cell

NPC-3000 Series NATM Pressure cells are designed to monitor radial

and tangential stresses of shotcrete in the construction of tunnels,
particularly those using the New Austrian Tunnel Method and other
underground works.

The cells are constructed from two stainless steel plates welded around
their periphery with the narrow gap between the plates filled with
hydraulic fluid.

As the stress increases within shotcrete or concrete the fluid pressure

within the cell rises as the plates are squeezed together.

A length of stainless steel tube connects the plates to a pressure

transducer that converts the pressure to an electrical signal which can be
read directly with a readout or data logged.

Cell dimensions 100 x 200mm, 150 x 250mm

Cell thickness 5mm
Operating temp -20°C to +80°C
Range 2, 3, 5, 7, 20, 35 MPa

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 STRAIN GAUGE LOAD CELL
Strain Gauge Load Cells incorporate from 8 to 16 high output electrical
resistance strain gauges in a full bridge configuration that are bonded to a
high strength steel or stainless steel spool. This arrangement compensates
for both temperature effects and off center loading. Strain Gauge Load
Cells are available in virtually any size, in both annular and solid styles.
Gauge waterproofing utilizes the latest application techniques and
protective materials. The rugged design includes heavy duty protective
cover, sealed construction, and low deflection under load.

Mounting surfaces should be flat and parallel for optimum performance.

RST recommends the use of top & bottom loading platens for best
performance with annular load cells.

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 JACK OUT EARTH PRESSURE CELL
RST Jack Out Earth Pressure Cells are used to measure active and passive
pressures on diaphragm walls. The cell itself is constructed of two
circular, stainless steel plates welded around their periphery. The space
between the two plates is filled with an incompressible fluid. A
transducer is connected to this space and measures the pressure exerted
on the incompressible fluid. This cell is connected to a backing plate,
which is connected to a double acting hydraulic jack and an opposite
reaction plate that is the same diameter as the cell. When the hydraulic
jack is expanded it acts on the backing plate so that the cell is not
damaged. The backing plate is also attached to the hydraulic jack by a
swivel joint allowing for some misalignment in placement of the jack out
pressure cell.

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 BOREHOLE PRESSURE CELL
Borehole Pressure Cells have a long term track record of stress
monitoring in both elastic and viscoelastic rock. While typically classified
as a soft inclusion, the cell may be filled with mercury to gain stiffness
for use as a rigid inclusion in low modulus rock.

Due to the flat design, the BPC responds primarily to the stress in the
plane perpendicular to the cell, and is only slightly affected by stress in
the same plane. Two BPC’s mounted at right angles to each other in the
same borehole therefore will monitor the principal stresses in the plane
perpendicular to the borehole. Biaxial stress measurement will require
three BPC’s in the same borehole.

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 USBM deformation gage

Overcoring methods are measuring in situ stress based on the stress relief
around the borehole. The relief of external forces by overcoring causes
the changes in

 borehole diameter for "USBM deformation gage";

 strain on the borehole wall for "Triaxial strain cell", or
 changes in strain on the flat end of the borehole for "Doorstopper".

If the elastic properties of the rock are known, the changes in borehole
diameter or strains can be converted to in situ stress in the rock.

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Typical instrumentation scheme for a deep open cut excavation section

Influence zone of an underground construction

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Typical reporting format of monitoring results of deep excavation

CONCLUSIONS
The instrumentation and monitoring works are integral and vital part of
an underground infrastructure development. The intended purpose of this
work is not limited to design optimization and construction control but to
ensure the safety and stability of the work site and its surroundings with
advance warnings and alerts.

It is essential that every personnel involved in the construction to have the

basic knowledge and orientation about the instrumentation and its
significance on the overall safety of the wok site.

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