Design and installation of a combined automatic tensiometer-piezometer system

Currently available systems for monitoring both negative and positive pore pressures have certain restrictions as to their use. A system design is described that seeks to overcome some of the potentially more restrictive elements insofar as site investigations in tropical slopes are concerned. In particular, the system uses an integrated approach to both pore pressure and ancillary (e.g. raingauge) monitoring. Initial trials of the instrumentation suggest its suitability for pore pressure recording where high temporal resolution is needed in both negative and positive pressures.     

Trials of an acoustic method of measuring piezometric levels in standpipes

The role of the open standpipe Casagrande piezometer for determining soil pore pressures is still important because of its simplicity and reliability in comparison with transducer type instruments. Such factors are especially relevant when instrumentation is used on remote and inaccessible sites. The limitations of Casagrande type systems relate to poor response times, particularly in soils of low permeability, and the complexity of the normal gas bubbling equipment used to monitor and record data from this type of piezometer. The response can be improved, providing the design of the installation is taken into consideration in terms of the piezometer collection area and standpipe sizes. A simple acoustic technique has been developed by Geotechnical Monitoring Ltd, to monitor and record piezometric levels. This is based on measuring the period for the return echo of a high frequency signal; a technique widely used to focus cameras that has been found to be reliable and accurate. However, trials on landslide sites in Indonesia highlighted problems which related more to a lack of development rather than any fundamental problems in the method of monitoring standpipes. This paper describes such problems and how they might be overcome.     

A phenomenological numerical approach for investigating grain size evolution in ductiley deforming rocks

The sizes of recrystallised grains in exhumed ductile shear zones are often used to infer conditions of deformation (i.e. stress, strain rate and temperature). Here we present a simple numerical method of calculating the dynamic evolution of grain size during ductile deformation. Our phenomenological method is based on the fact that the dynamic competition between grain growth and recrystallisation will drive grains towards a steady-state size. At each time increment, grain growth and reduction contributions are calculated, with magnitudes which depend on the difference between the current grain size and a desired steady-state grain size. In our models we use a recrystallised grain size piezometer to calculate the steady-state grain size for a given stress. Our numerical routine is incorporated into the SULEC finite element package, allowing us to explore spatial and temporal changes in grain size.As a test, we compare model results to measured grain sizes in quartz layers thinned and recrystallised around rigid garnet porphyroclasts under simple shear dominated deformation in the Alpine Fault Zone of New Zealand. Numerical models are able to replicate observed grain size variations, with boundary conditions consistent with those constrained for the central Alpine Fault Zone.     

Impacts of wastewater irrigation in arid and semi arid regions: case of Sidi Abid region,Tunisia

Impacts of irrigation with treated wastewater effluents on soils and groundwater aquifer in the vicinity of Sidi Abid Region (Tunisia) are evaluated. The groundwater aquifer was monitored by several piezometers, where monthly water levels were registered and groundwater salinity was evaluated. This resulted in characterizing the spatial and temporal evolution of the hydrochemical and hydrodynamic properties of the aquifer, showing thereby the impact of artificial recharge. Piezometric maps for pre-recharge and post-recharge situations were developed and a comparison study of both piezometric situations was considered. The piezometric evolution map showed a generalized rise of the piezometric level in the vicinity of the irrigation zone. The extent of recharge was shown to increase with time as the groundwater level increase, which was localized in the vicinity of the irrigation area, reached more extended zones. Several groundwater samples were withdrawn from wells and piezometers and analyzed. Examining the corresponding physical and chemical parameters showed an increase in the concentrations of nutrients (28 mg/l for NO₃ and 3.97 mg/l for NH₄) in the groundwater aquifer below the irrigation zone, which confirms again the infiltration of treated wastewater effluents. The evolution of soil salinity was examined through chemical analysis of soil samples. Electric conductivities of soils were generally shown to be less than 4 mS/cm while the irrigation water has an electric conductivity that may reach 6.63 mS/cm. This might be explained by the phenomenon of dilution and the capacity of soils to evacuate salts downward.     

北京市密云水库第一溢洪道测压管水位偏高问题及对策

测压管——水库及大坝等水工建筑物的眼睛,用以观测地下水位、水温、水质等的动态变化规律。籍此资料可以测算渗透压力、温度应力以及水质对建筑物和基础的潜蚀或破坏的可能性,可以推测建筑物在使用过程中的稳定性。因而,它是一个非常重要的监测工具和手段。国内、外的水工建筑物几乎都埋设了测压管,并设有专门的机构对其进行长期观测。本文旨在利用北京密云水库第一溢洪道的测压管资料,来说明安全检查工作中发现的问题,即测压管水位偏高问题的研究方法和其对策。     

Measurement and Analysis of Pore Water Pressure in Large Caverns and Shafts in a Hydro-electric Project

With an objective to understand the behaviour of pore water pressure around large underground openings, piezometers were installed in the rock around the desanding chambers, surge shaft, its drainage galleries, and the transformer cavern of a large hydro-electric project. The monitored data indicated that the pore water pressure was insignificant in the rock surrounding the desanding chambers prior to lining. On completion of the concrete lining of the chambers, the maximum pore water pressure was about 50 kPa as the flow of water was restricted. When one of the desanding chambers was charged with water, the piezometers around it indicated an excessive increase in the pore water pressure due to seepage of water from the chamber. Thus the piezometer readings were useful in taking appropriate remedial measures. In the surge shaft, higher values of pore water pressure were recorded on the hill side of the shaft as compared to the valley side. In one of the drainage galleries, the pore water pressure gradually increased to 450 kPa, which was released by drilling relief holes in the area. In the other drainage gallery, no significant change in the pore water was recorded. In the transformer cavern, the recorded pore water pressures were within 20 kPa.     

On modelling installation designs for soil water instrumentation,with particular reference to casagrande type piezometer systems

Appropriate installation design of soil water monitoring equipment is necessary to ensure the meaningful interpretation of the resultant data. For example, although piezometers are widely used in monitoring positive pore water pressures, the limits on the shape factor of the system in terms of the ceramic tip and filter design have not been fully studied. The filter design boundary conditions are investigated here using a finite element analysis, in which threshold ceramic tip and filter characteristics (permeability and dimensions) are identified. From the modelling results, it is possible to select the most suitable design installation.