Monday 28 March 2016

Facts To Know About A Slope Indicator

By Barbara Burns


There are many applications in real life situations that require the measurement of the slope, elevation, or depression of an object in respect to gravity. The instrument that is used for this purpose is referred to as a slope indicator. Other names used to refer to the instrument are level gauge, declinometer, gradient meter, slope alert, and roll indicator among several other names.

Declinometers take both the positive and negative slopes of the object being measured. That means that the measurements can be taken as seen by the observe looking downwards and upwards on the object. Three major units of measurements are used. These units are topo, degree, and percent. The modern-day version of the instrument evolved from a predecessor, which was called an astrolabe. Astrolabes were in use during the Renaissance period.

The level of accuracy in modern declinometers is very high. The accuracy is determined by different factors. Modern technologies have made it possible to achieve resolution outputs of more than 0.0001. On the contrary, typical accuracy ranges between 0.01 and negative or positive two degrees. Apart from technology, sensitivity, sensor linearity, repeatability, temperature, and hysteresis also influence accuracy.

Technologies incorporated in modern devices are very different. The most popular technology upon which devices are designed involves generation of an imaginary horizon and then talking measurements of angular tilt with respect to that horizon. Devices that rely on this technology are built into machines like flight controls of planes, specialty switches, vehicle security systems, and cameras. When buying a tilt angle, the key factors to keep in mind are range of tilt angle and number of axes.

Modern life has many applications for inclinometers. They become valuable in monitoring subsurface movements and deformations. In this area, they are employed in detecting zones of movement to tell if motion is responding to remedial measures, is constant, or is accelerating. Also, the instrument can be used to tell if deformations are within limits. This helps to ensure that adjacent structures do not get affected by subsurface movements.

After impoundment of a given area of land, it is important to verify the stability of structures such as upstream slopes, dam abutments, and dams. Inclinometers are instruments used for such verification. Horizontal inclinometers are also used to monitor settlement profiles of foundations, embankments, and other similar structures. Thus, it is obvious that these instruments have a lot of use in the construction industry and many other related industries.

An inclinometer is usually composed of two components, that is, the measurement system and the casing. The casing component enables access to subsurface measurements. It contains grooves within it that control the orientation of the sensor of the device and offer the whole system with a uniform surface from which measurement can be taken.

Casings of inclinometers can be installed on various platforms. Some of the commonest installation places and methods include fitting inside boreholes, burying in trenches, embedding in fill, casting into concrete, and attaching to structures. Factors to keep in mind when buying a casing are groove shape, coupling style, and casing diameter.




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