Universal Calibration Device for Fluid and In-Soil Calibration of Pressure Transducers

Abstract

Evaluation of stresses generated at soil-structure interface or within the soil mass influences the design decisions of substructures. Though many analytical techniques are available, actual measurement of these stresses is of prime importance from analytical and construction view point. The measurement of stresses also provides valuable information for validating constitutive theories of geo-material behaviour and computational techniques for examining soil-structure interaction problems. Calibration of pressure transducer involves application of known pressure to the transducer and obtaining the relationship between applied pressure and pressure cell output. In absence of such relationship, interpretation of data obtained using transducers is highly questionable. Present study describes details of indigenously developed universal pressure transducer calibration device, developed by modifying the conventional triaxial apparatus. It allows demanding task of fluid and in-soil calibration of pressure transducers, which was not possible with existing calibration devices. Performance of the developed device checked using three different types of transducers revealed accurate and repeatable results.