At least one of the anchors should be located where no displacement is

expected because it can then be used as a reference for the displacements of

the remaining anchors. If it is not possible to locate an anchor in stable ground,
the elevation of the reference head should be independently measured using a
precise level each time a measurement is made. If grouted anchors are used, the
grout should be deformable because if it is too stiff the whole extensometer
might move as a solid element, the movements of the anchors might be
restricted and the movements at the measuring points might be underestimated.
NOTE 1 Remote monitoring is not practical if the reference head has to be precisely
levelled.
NOTE 2 Connecting rods are typically made from stainless steel or fibreglass and
are surrounded by a plastic sleeve to isolate them from the grout that is used to fill
the borehole after the anchors and connecting rods have been installed. Stainless
steel rods come in discrete, relatively short sections (typically 2 m to 3 m) with screw
threads on each end and are joined together during installation, the final,
uppermost length being adjustable to suite the required location of the respective
anchor. Fibreglass rods come in fixed continuous lengths, which are coiled for
transporting and while they can be installed in one step, it is important that the
anchors are positioned accurately because fibreglass rods are impossible to lengthen
and difficult to shorten after they have been installed. The choice of material for the
rods (stainless steel or fibreglass) is influenced by the skill of the installer to position
the anchors accurately and the thermal stability of the installation.

Figure 26 Rod extensometer system

Key
1 Displacement transducer for 6 Rod (steel or fibre-glass) with
automatic and remote readings protective pipe cover
2 Protective cover 7 Borehole
3 Dial gauge for manual readings 8 Grouted anchor
4 Measuring head 9 Hydraulic anchor
5 Guide bracket for rods 10 Soft deformable grout