Convergence Measurement

Gunda Yuga Raju

15152009 (M. Tech.)
Monitoring Rock Mass Performance

 Monitoring is the surveillance of engineering structures, either

visually or with the help of instruments. In a general geomechanics
context, monitoring may be carried out for four main reasons:
1) To record the natural values of, and variations in, geotechnical
parameters before the initiation of an engineering project;
2) To ensure safety during construction and operation by giving
warning of the development of excess ground deformations,
groundwater pressures and loads in support and reinforcement
elements, for example;
3) To check the validity of the assumptions, conceptual models and
values of soil or rock mass properties used in design calculations;
4) To control the implementation of ground treatment and remedial
works.
Cont.

 In mining rock mechanics, most monitoring is carried

out for the second and third of these reasons.
 Monitoring the safety of the mine structure is a clear
responsibility of the mining engineer.
 Monitoring to check the rock mass response and, as a
consequence, adjust the overall mine design or take
remedial measures, is equally important.
General features of monitoring systems

 The instrumentation system used to monitor a given

variable will generally have three different components.
1. A sensor or detector responds to changes in the variable
being monitored. Transducer.
2. A transmitting system which may use rods, electrical cables,
hydraulic lines or radio telemetry devices, transmits the
sensor output to the read-out location.
3. A read-out and/or recording unit such as a dial gauge,
pressure gauge, digital display, or computer, converts the
data into a usable form and presents them to the engineer.
Data Acquisition System.
 Introduction

 Mining is a difficult and hazardous art.

 Many Mining problems are caused by unexpected changes in
the strength or deformabi1ity of the rock or soil mass in which
the Mining is done.
 Shape changes can be either inconsequential or catastrophic,
depending on the
 distribution of stresses in the mass,
 its strength,
 deformability and anisotropy,
 the design and orientation of the Mine,
 the effect of associated structures, and the extent to which
hazardous or costly changes can be detected promptly and
precautionary/ remedial measures taken.
 Mine Instrumentation

 Fortunately, most shape-changes are reflected in geologic and

structural displacements, stresses, strains , and pressures
which can be measured using existing instrumentation.
 Early detection of changes in any of these parameters is of
great value not only in the identification of potential hazards,
but in devising remedial measures and confirming their
effectiveness.
 The same instrumentation can be used to evaluate the
adequacy of support, the behaviour of associated structures,
and the efficiency of construction methods and their
implementation.
 Initial Considerations

 In choosing parameters to be measured, and instruments

for the measurements, four main factors have to be
considered:
(i) Measurements should be capable of providing information
on an entire mass or structure, rather than on "typical" or
"test" sections.
(ii) Measurements should provide good sample distribution,
even under the conditions of limited or otherwise
restricted site accessibility.
(iii) Measurements should be redundant enough so that
important decisions need not be made on the basis of
inconclusive or fragmentary information.
(iv) Costs must not be excessive or unreasonable.
Cont.

 These requirements can usually be met more easily by

measurements of shape-dependent than of stress-
dependent parameters.
 This is because shape changes are typically larger in scale,
greater in extent and more systematic than equivalent
changes in most stress-related parameters.
 Moreover, shape change measurements can be made with
consistent levels of precision using many different types of
instruments in widely varying applications and under
widely differing conditions of operation.
 Convergence Measurements

 Convergence, or the relative displacement of two points on

the boundary of an excavation, is probably the most
frequently made underground measurement.
 Good, quick, and economical indications of rock or soil mass
stability and of support system effectiveness can be obtained
by simple measurements of wall-wall and roof-floor
convergence.
 The measurement is made variously with a telescopic rod,
invar bar or tape under constant tension, placed between two
measuring points firmly fixed to the rock surface.
 A deformation indicator like dial gauge, micrometer, or an
electrical device such as an LVDT, potentiometer or vibrating
wire gauge is used to obtain the measurement of relative
displacement.
Cont.

 The measurements can be made in constricted areas and

the number and distribution of measuring points can be
easily increased, decreased, changed or otherwise
modified to adapt to changing conditions and
requirements.
 The gage is usually portable and is attached at the time of
reading to permanent anchors mounted at each end of the
measuring span.
 The distances between opposing pairs of points are
measured periodically and noted in relation to time, face
distance or other parameters.
 Time is particularly useful, as it facilitates the comparison
of convergence data with information from other sources.
 Convergence Measurement
Wire/ Tape
Convergence
Indicators
Rod & Tube Dial gauge
Mechanical
Micrometer

Deformation
Indicator LVDT

Electrical Potentiometer

Vibrating Wire
 Tape Convergence Indicator
 They are often called a tape
extensometer.
 The tape has punched holes at 50mm
intervals.
 Grouted/ welded/ bolted rebar and
expansion shell anchors are shown.
 The tension in the tape is controlled
by a compression spring, and to
standardize tension the collar is
rotated until the scribed lines are in
alignment.
 After attachment of the
extensometer to the anchors and
standardizing the tension, readings of
distance are made by adding the dial
indicator reading to the tape reading.
 Maximum span is approximately 60m.
 Rod and Tube Convergence Indicator
(Telescopic Convergence Indicator)

 Rod and rigid tube convergence gages generally consist of

telescoping rods or rigid tubes, a dial indicator or
micrometer, and contact seats that mate with anchors.
 Some gages have invar rods or tubes, others have aluminum
or galvanized or stainless steel for which a temperature
correction can be applied to maximize precision.
 Range of span, depending on the model is (150mm to 8m).
 The telescoping arrangement is often spring loaded.
 These gages are alternatives to tape or wire gages for
vertical spans in tunnels and mines where access to the
upper anchor is inconvenient.
 However, precision of horizontal or inclined spans is reduced
by sag.
 Rod and tube convergence gages are also available with
electrical displacement transducers for remote reading, both
as fixed in place and portable instruments.
 VW Convergence Meter

 Vibrating Wire Convergence Meter is designed

to detect the deformation of rock/ soil masses
by measuring the contraction/ elongation
between 2 fixed anchor points.
 Anchor points are established in the mass, and
 Connecting rods from one anchor lead back to
transducer assembly located at the second
anchor point.
 Changes in distance between the 2 anchors
are conveyed by the connecting rods and
measured by the transducer.
 Cont.

 Convergence Meter consists of 3 basic

components:
 The 2 anchor points,
 6mm diameter connecting rods,
 The spring-tensioned vibrating wire transducer
assembly.
 The transducer consists of a vibrating wire
sensing element in series with a heat treated,
stress relieved spring which is connected to
the wire at one end and a connecting rod at
the other.
 The unit is fully sealed and operates at
pressures of up to 250psi.
 Installation

 As the connecting rod is pulled out from the gage body,

the spring is elongated causing an increase in tension
which is sensed by the vibrating wire element.
 The tension in the wire is directly proportional to the
extension, hence, the convergence can be determined very
accurately by measuring the strain change with the
vibrating wire readout box.
 The convergence meter can operate in horizontal, inclined
or vertical orientations.
 Each VW Convergence Meter is equipped with a thermistor
for reading temperature. The thermistor gives a varying
resistance output as the temperature changes.
 Connect the readout box, set the transducer to mid-range.
Convergence Meter Installation
 Linear Potentiometer

 Linear potentiometers are an

alternatives to LVDTs for
remote measurement of
linear deformation.
 A potentiometer is a device
with a movable slider, usually
called a wiper, that makes
electrical contact along a
fixed resistance strip.
 Construction

 As shown in the figure a regulated DC

voltage is applied to the two ends of the
resistance strip and the voltage between
B and C is measured as the output signal.
 The voltage varies between the voltage
at A and the voltage at B as the wiper
moves form A to B.
 When the device is used for
measurement of linear deformation and
the relationship between wiper position
and output signal is proportional, the
device is called a linear potentiometer.
 Measurement

 By reading voltages between B and C, and between A and

C, a checking feature is created because the sum should
equal the input voltage.
 An alternative method of readout is to measure the
resistance between the wiper and one end of the
resistance strip and to relate the measured using an
ohmmeter or digital multimeter.
 In a third readout method, the potentiometer forms two
arms of a Wheatstone bridge circuit, and measurement of
wiper position is made by using a portable indicator that
contains a balancing potentiometer.
 Disadvantages

 Potentiometers are not suitable for measuring rapidly varying

motions.
 However, the readout is simple and can be arranged to give a high
output voltage, which is not readily degraded by long lead wire
effects or electrical noise.
 The resistance strip and wiper must be sealed to prevent moisture
intrusion and, provided there are no leaks whatsoever,
potentiometers can successfully be used for long-term
measurements.
 Remote type system is generally used where access is not always
possible or some secondary measurement like data acquisition
system to be installed for continuous recording for convergence
measurements.
 Because of the difficulty in ensuring a long-term perfect seal on a
linear potentiometer, LVDTs is now often preferred for long-term
applications.