Portable Tiltmeter- Operating Principle & Taking Readings

Tiltmeters are used to monitor deflection, vertical rotation, and deformation in the diaphragm and retaining walls.

Encardio-rite Model EAN-70M is a portable tiltmeter uses an anodized aluminium housing which contains an accurate accelerometer and suitable signal conditioning circuit.

The accelerometer picks up the force of acceleration due to gravity which reaches its highest when the accelerometer is rotated to full 90o tilt position and touches zero when the title angle of the accelerometer is 0o.
For other angles, the force of acceleration is calculated by equating the product of the sine of tilt angle to the acceleration due to gravity.

The tilt sensor produces a bipolar DC voltage output proportional to the sine of tilt angle measured by the tiltmeter. The voltage output measures zero volts for a truly vertical sensor. The sensor presents a relatively low-cost tilt measurement solution with superior resolution, long term stability and low thermal sensitivity.

Tiltmeter is used to monitor the change in the tilt of any horizontal floor or vertical surface by setting it on a fitting tilt place, which is accessible separately.

The portable tiltmeter is not made for absolute determination of tilt of structures.A reference tilt plate is attached to the structure through which the change in the tilt of the structure is measured.

Once the tilt plate is mounted, initial tilt reading for each tilt plate is monitored and recorded. The change in the tilt of a structure is then calculated by subtracting the initial tilt reading from the subsequent tilt reading.

Tilt Plate

Tilt plate is a disc-like structure of 142 mm in diameter made from Aluminium. It is attached to the structure using a four Hilti anchors HPS 1–6/15×40 # 260350 or equivalent. If the structure has a smooth surface like marble or granite, the tilt plate is bonded to it by epoxy. The four pegs on the tilt plate are used to position the tiltmeter.

Horizontally mounted tilt plate allows tilt readings in two planes that are at 90o to each other. Vertically mounted tilt plate allows tilt readings along one vertical plane only.

Tiltmeter

Portable tiltmeter, as the name suggests is shifted from one tilt plate to another to monitor the reading. With the help of alignment bars which are provided on the front, the bottom, and the rear side, the tiltmeter is precisely placed on the …[Continue Reading]