Sunday 27 March 2016

Facts To Know About A Slope Indicator

By Barbara Burns


Measurement of angles of depression, slope, and elevation of an object or surface with respect to gravitational pull is usually necessary in certain applications. A slope indicator is the instrument used for taking such measurements. The device can also be referred to ass a slope alert, declinometer, level gauge, roll indicator, or gradient meter. Different names are applicable in different situations.

When measuring a slope of an object using a declinometers, both the positive and negative slopes are measured. That implies that measurements are taken as seen when an observer is looking both upwards and downwards. Units of measurements used are usually three in number and they include degrees, topo, and percentage. Astrolabe is the predecessor inclinometer from which the modern version evolved. Astrolabes were used during Renaissance.

Modern-day declinometers have a very high level of accuracy. Accuracy in these instruments is dependent on various factors. The main factors are angle range and technology incorporated in the device. Those with modern technology can reach output resolutions of 0.0001 degrees while typical accuracy is placed at 0.01 to 2 degrees in either positive or negative direction. Besides technology, other factors that determine accuracy are hysteresis, sensor linearity, sensitivity, temperature, and repeatability.

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.

Inclinometers have several applications in modern life. They are useful in the monitoring of subsurface deformations and movements. Here, they are used to detect zones of movement so as to determine if the movement is responding to remedial measures, is accelerating, or is moving at a constant rate. The instruments also find use in checking if deformations fall within limits. This can be helpful in making sure that adjacent structures are not affected by movements.

After an area has been impounded, the stability of structures such as dam abutments, dams, and upstream slopes must be verified. This verification is done by inclinometers. Settlement profiles of structures such as embankments and foundations can also be monitored using horizontal inclinometers. Therefore, from the various applications of inclinometers, it is obvious that it is a vital instrument in construction and 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.

Various platforms can be used for the installation of inclinometer casings. Most common places and techniques of installation are fitting inside boreholes, embedding in fill, burying in trenches, attaching to structures, and casting into concrete. Some of the factors one should remember when buying casings are groove shape, casing diameter, and coupling style.




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