Measurements and monitoring
Stress Monitoring
In situ stress measurements
In situ testing
Measurements and monitoring
Software
Unlike the tests, that measure the current state of stress of a rock or concrete, the stress monitoring measures the stress tensor variations, that develops starting from the installation instant (zero reading).
For this purpose, instruments named “stress-meters” or “stress cells” are used; they obtain the stress variations in indirect way, measuring the deformation of the borehole.
The stress-meters are equipped with a temperature sensor. Thus, it is possible a compensation of the measurement, subtracting thermal variation effects.
The stress-meters can be uniaxial, biaxial, triaxial.
Often, the stress-meters are installed after a stress measurement, in the same cored borehole used for a Doorstopper or CSIRO test.
Typical application scopes are the pillars and the walls of mining stopes, the tunnel linings, and the body of concrete dams.