Saturday, March 26, 2016

Learn About A Slope Indicator

By Barbara Burns


Measurement of the depression, elevation, and slope of an object with respect to gravitational force is required in many real life applications today. The instrument used to achieve this purpose is called a slope indicator. There are several other names by which this device goes including level gauge, declinometer, slope alert, roll indicator, and gradient meter. The various names may be used in different applications.

Declinometers have the ability to take both negative and positive slopes of the objects they are measuring. With that in mind, it means that both measurements when an observer is looking downwards and upwards on an object can be taken. Units of representation of measurements used are topo, percentages, and degrees. Modern inclinometers are an evolution of astrolabes, an old version of declinometer that was used in the Renaissance period.

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.

Modern devices incorporate different technologies. In most cases, the gadgets operate based on generation of an artificial horizon with respect to which measurement of angular tilt is done. Roll indicators that employ this technology are incorporated in flight controls of aircrafts, cameras, specialty switches, and automobile security systems. When one wants to buy tilt sensors, two key factors to keep in mind are tilt angle range and number of axes in the device.

Modern life finds many uses for inclinometers. These devices are valuable in the monitoring of subsurface movements and/or deformations. In this application, they are utilized in the detection of motion to establish if motion is accelerating, constant, or responding to countermeasures. Also, deformations that are within limits can be told through the use of the instrument. This assists in ensuring that subsurface motion does not affect adjacent structures.

After impoundment of a given area of land, it is important to verify the stability of structures such as upstream slopes, dam abutments, and dams. Inclinometers are instruments used for such verification. Horizontal inclinometers are also used to monitor settlement profiles of foundations, embankments, and other similar structures. Thus, it is obvious that these instruments have a lot of use in the construction industry and many other related industries.

Inclinometers are made of two main parts, that is, casings and the measurement system. Taking subsurface measurements is enabled by the casing component. The casing component has grooves that control how the sensor of the device is oriented. It also gives the system a uniform surface for taking measurements from.

Installation of inclinometer casings can be done on various platforms. Some of the platforms and methods include burying in trenches, attaching to structures, casting into concrete, embedding in fill, and fitting inside boreholes. Casing diameters, coupling style, and groove shape are the three major factors to be considered when buying this device.




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