52.

9 Electric piezometers
COMMENTARY ON 52.9
Electric piezometers consist of a flexible diaphragm separated from a porous filter by
a water-filled chamber (see Figure 23). A strain gauge attached to the back of the
diaphragm measures the deflection of the diaphragm in response to changes of the
water pressure in the chamber. Provided the piezometer is fully saturated, very rapid
response times can be achieved which makes electric piezometers particularly
suitable for dynamic measurements. The measurements can be made using either a
current-loop or voltage. In the case of current-loop sensors, the measurement is not
affected by the length of the cable. Voltage measurements, on the other hand, are
sensitive to the length of cable. The calibration cannot be checked after the
piezometer has been installed, which is a significant disadvantage. Electric
piezometers cannot be used for in-situ permeability measurements
(see Penman, 1960 [121]). When fitted with a low permeability porous filter,
electrical piezometers are capable of measuring small negative pore water pressures
(e.g. to around -90 kPa), but as these pressures reduce, the tendency for air to form
in the piezometer increases and if the air is not removed the piezometer gives
misleading measurements.
If hermetically sealed devices are used, the measured pressure should be
corrected for the effect of changes in the barometric pressure at the surface. If
the sensor chamber is vented to atmosphere via the electrical cable, there is no
requirement to record the barometric pressure but precautions should be taken
to prevent moisture entering the vent tube (e.g. place a silica gel bag close to
the open end of the vent tube and ensure that the system is free to "breathe").
For devices reading voltage, the length of the cable should not be changed after
the piezometer has been installed because it is likely to affect the calibration of
the piezometer. The calibration should be checked before the piezometer is
installed by first laying it on the ground to check the zero value and then by
progressively lowering the piezometer into a water-filled borehole.
Figure 23 Schematic of an electric piezometer

Key
1 Signal cable 5 Water chamber
2 Transducer body 6 О-ring seal
3 Bonded strain gauge 7 Saturated porous filter
4 Flexible diaphragm

Electric piezometers should not be used if the pore water pressures are likely to
be negative and could remain so for a long time unless there is a means of
removing air from the piezometer.