Figure 24 Probe inclinometer system

Key
1 Graduated signal cable
2 Transducer readout
3 Cable gate
4 Sprung wheel set
5 Transducer body
6 Cement-bentonite grout
7 Grooved inclinometer casing
8 Sealed bottom cap

53.2 Inclinometer access casing and installation procedure

COMMENTARY ON 53.2
Inclinometer access casings are most often formed of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene), but aluminium casings are also available. Individual sections of casing are
usually 3 m long and flush jointed with an О-ring seal to prevent ingress of grout or
water. Couplers are available and can be used where sections of casing have no
О-ring joint or where a length of casing has been cut. The couplers are either glued
or riveted to the sections.
The joints should be sealed to prevent ingress of water or grout; if rivets are
used, the coupler should be covered with a waxed tape. A sealed bottom cap
should be used and the top of the casing should be covered during installation.
Spiralling of the internal grooves should be quantified over the whole length of
the installed casing before any readings are taken. If spiralling of the grooves is
greater than ±5° over the length of the casing this should be taken into account
when calculating the resultant inclinations.
Inclinometer casings should be installed inside boreholes or, in the case of piles
and diaphragm walls, installed inside temporary void formers placed inside the
structure until concreting is complete. The annulus between the inclinometer
access casing and the ground or temporary void former should be filled with a
cement-bentonite grout. Typical grout mixtures for stiff and soft ground are
shown in Table 35 (see Mikkelsen, 2002 [127]). The cement should be added to
the water first because the strength and stiffness of the grout are determined
by the initial water/cement ratio. Bentonite is only added to restrict "bleed".
Sufficient bentonite should be added to provide a creamy mix, which is
pumpable. The amount of bentonite required to provide this depends on the
ambient temperature and the acidity of the water. Care should be taken to
prevent the grout from entering inside the inclinometer access casing during
installation.