1/9/2021 Settlement Plates : GEO-Instruments

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Settlement Plates

Settlement plates are used to monitor settlement induced by surcharges placed on

compressible soils.

Applications
Monitoring consolidation of ground treated with wick drains and surcharges.

Monitoring settlement during construction of embankments.

Basic Components
Steel base plate.

Steel riser pipe fixed to the base plate.

Extensions to the riser, required as the height of the surcharge increases.

Installation & Maintenance

1. Settlement plates are installed at specified locations.
2. The initial elevation of each plate and riser is noted carefully. Settlement will be
calculated by comparing the subsequent measurements to the initial measurement.

3. Fill is hand-compacted around the riser to the specified level of the lift. Paint, flags,
cones, or fences are used to make the riser visible to equipment operators.
4. When fill approaches the top of the riser, an extension is added and step 3 is repeated.

Monitoring
Traditional: Settlement plates are traditionally monitored by a surveyor, who measures the
elevation of the top of each riser. Each set of elevation measurements requires a visit by the
surveyor, who then prepares and delivers a report.

Automated: The top of each riser is fitted with a prism. Elevations of the prisms are then
measured automatically using an AMTS system. Automation allows frequent measurements
and provides graphs and reports just minutes after each measurement cycle.

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1/9/2021 Settlement Plates : GEO-Instruments

Settlement plate risers should be painted Fill was hand-compacted around this riser
and flagged to be visible to equipment to the next level of the lift.
operators.

AMTS system on gravity base tower.

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