Factors Affecting the Performance of a Pneumatic Earth Pressure Cell

Abstract

Abstract Twenty pneumatic total earth pressure transducers of type SOLINST were installed on a bridge abutment. It was found that their performance was affected considerably by temperature, and to a lesser extent, by the installation procedure and the type of soil in contact with the pressure cells. In order to quantify these influences, an extensive laboratory investigation was undertaken. From this experimental study, correction factors were obtained and applied to the field data. It is suspected that other pneumatic pressure cells will be affected similarly and field measurements need to be corrected.