Multi-Level

VW Piezometer
52611199

Copyright ©2013 DGSI. All Rights Reserved.

This equipment should be installed, maintained, and operated by technically qualified personnel. Any errors
or omissions in data, or the interpretation of data, are not the responsibility of Durham Geo Slope Indicator
Company. The information herein is subject to change without notification.
This document contains information that is proprietary to DGSI and is subject to return upon request. It is
transmitted for the sole purpose of aiding the transaction of business between DGSI and the recipient. All
information, data, designs, and drawings contained herein are proprietary to and the property of DGSI, and
may not be reproduced or copied in any form, by photocopy or any other means, including disclosure to out-
side parties, directly or indirectly, without permission in writing from DGSI.

SLOPE INDICATOR
12123 Harbour Reach Drive
Mukilteo, Washington, USA, 98275
Tel: 425-493-6200 Fax: 425-493-6250
E-mail: solutions@slope.com
Website: www.slopeindicator.com
 Contents

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Taking Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Data Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Acceptance Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Multi-Level VW Piezometer, 2013/10/08

 Introduction
Operation Multi-Level VW Piezometers are used to
Signal cables are protected
monitor pore-water pressure at different
by PVC "placement" pipe.
elevations in the borehole.
The multi-level system simplifies the process
of installing multiple piezometers:
 Placement pipe ensures that piezometers are
placed at the intended elevations.
 Signal cables run upwards inside the PVC "placement" pipe
makes it easy to place
placement pipe rather than through the piezometers at the
backfill. This eliminates possible leakage specified elevations.
paths along the cables and also protects the
cable. The placement pipe is later filled with
grout.
 The entire borehole is backfilled filled with
a bentonite cement grout. This isolates the
intake zone of each piezometer and also
eliminates the need for placing sand and
bentonite plugs.

Piezometers are installed

in-line with the placement
pipe.

Fully grouted borehole

Grout can be delivered

through the PVC pipe in
installations that are up to
30m (100ft) deep.

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 Components Components include VW piezometers in multi-level housings and PVC placement
pipe. Placement pipe consists of lengths of PVC pipe that run between multi-level
housings and control the depth of each piezometer.

VW Piezometer in The drawing shows a cutaway of the multi-level Pipe with signal
Multi-Level Housing housing. Couplings at top and bottom accept cables inside.
placement pipe. Signal cable from each sensor runs Coupling at top
upwards through the placement pipe and housings. of housing

The piezometer is held filter end up so that water

placed in front of the diaphragm will not drain out
during installation. Piezometer

Serial Numbers: Piezometers are identified by their

serial numbers. After the piezometer is installed, the
only means of identifying it is the serial number
label attached to the end of the cable. Take care that Coupling at bottom
it is not cut off during or after installation. of housing

Pipe & signal cable

Acceptance Test: We recommend that you test each from piezo below
piezometer as received. See Acceptance Tests later in
this manual.

Grouting  The multi-level system uses fully grouted bore- Cable out
holes. More information on this technique can be
found in technotes on the Slope Indicator website. Grout in

 If the borehole is less than 30m (100 feet) deep,

you can usually grout the borehole through the
placement pipe. An optional grout fitting, shown
at right, is convenient in this case.
 If the borehole is more than 30m (100 feet) deep,
an exterior grout pipe is more practical. If you use
a flexible hose for grouting, you should install it Threaded bushing
is glued to pipe.
with the piezometers. If you use a rigid pipe for
grouting, you can insert it after the piezometers are
in place.

User-Supplied  Placement pipe, couplings, and PVC cement. The multi-level housing accepts
Components 1.25 inch, schedule 40 PVC pipe.
 Safety cable attached to the deepest piezometer to help retrieve the system if
there is trouble during installation.
 Tape to protect ends of signal cables and hold cables together when pushing or
pulling them through the placement pipe.
 A tubing cutter to cut off the placement pipe at the required height.
 External grout pipe, if needed.

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 Installation
Planning 1. Check project specifications to find the
the intended depth of each piezometer.
2. Check cable lengths of piezometers
(look on the serial number label) and
Make a mark on the pipe to
mark them for order of installation. align with ground surface.
Measure from this mark to D1
3. Lay out piezometers (no need to uncoil
the cable yet. Use a measuring tape to
place each piezometer at the proper
distance from the "surface".
Pipe Length = D1 - 102 mm
4. Lay out placement pipe alongside the Pipe Length = D1 - 4 inches
(measured from surface)
piezometers and mark each length
where it should be cut. The drawing at
right may be helpful if precise placement
is required.
D1 is the intended depth of the top
102 mm piezometer. The length of the pipe - as
4 inches
measured from the surface- should be
D1 Intended depth of piezo
about 102 mm (4") shorter than D1
305 mm because the diaphragm of the piezome-
12 inches ter is about 102mm below the middle of
the coupling. Add some length to extend
above the surface (for handling) and
mark the pipe where it should align with
the ground surface.
D2 is the intended depth of the next Other pipe lengths:
piezometer. This time, the length of the Pipe Length = D2 - D1 - 305mm
pipe should be D2-D1-305mm (12 Pipe Length = D2 -D1 - 12 inches
inches). That is because the multi-level
housing is about 305mm long. Use the
same calculation for D3, D4, and so on.
5. Cut the pipe to the marked lengths. Intended depth of piezo
D2
Make sure to label the pipes for correct
assembly later.

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 Pre-Assembly 1. Lay out the piezometers, lengths of placement
pipe, and couplings.
2. Prepare cable ends with tape. Consider using
different color tape for each cable to provide a
secondary way to identify sensors if the serial
number labels are damaged.
3. Push the cable upwards through the adjoining
pipe and next multi-level housing.
4. Each housing adds another cable. Tape the
cables together for easier pushing or pulling.
In the photo at right, three cables are taped
together for easier pulling or pushing.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until cables have been
threaded through all the pipe lengths, cou-
plings, and piezometer housings.
6. Consider cementing one pipe
onto each piezometer housing to
ease handling later.

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 Installing 1. Stack the partially assembled piezometers near the borehole. The photo below
shows pipe from a different instrument. You can see that cables are threaded
through the pipe sections, and pipes are arranged for easy installation.

Different instrument, same concept: pipes are arranged for easy installation

2. Connect a safety line to the bottom piezometer. If you are using a flexible
external grout pipe, attach it to the bottom pipe.
3. Position the piezometer and pipe over the borehole. Remove the
filter (knurled ring) from the piezometer, fill the cavity with Filter

clean water, and replace the filter.

4. Insert the first piezometer into the borehole. Clamp the pipe at
the top of the borehole so you can add pipe or the next piezometer.
5. Continue assembling the system, gluing all joints and filling the filter cavity with
water. Repeat these steps until you place the final piezometer.

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 Grouting Backfill the entire borehole with a
bentonite-cement grout.
1. Pump the grout through the placement
pipe or through an external grout pipe.
2. Keep grouting pressure below 700 kPa
(100 psi), especially if you are using the
optional grouting adaptor, shown at right.
3. Stop pumping when grout appears at the
top of the borehole.
4. Cut off the excess pipe, being careful not
to damage the cables.
5. Terminate the installation as specified. Be sure to protect the serial number labels
on the ends of the cable.

Grout Recipes Here are grout recipes. Read the notes below.
Grout Mix for Hard to Medium Soils

Materials Weight Ratio by Weight

Portland cement 94 lb (1 bag) 1
Water 30 gallons 2.5
Bentonite 25 lb (as required) 0.3

Grout Mix for Soft Soils

Materials Weight Ratio by Weight

Portland cement 94 lb (1 bag) 1
Water 75 gallons 6.6
Bentonite 39 lb (as required) 0.4

Read These Notes  Mix cement with water first. Then add the bentonite to produce a grout with the
consistency of heavy cream. If you add bentonite first, the mix will be too thick
when cement is added. To thin the mix, you’ll have to add water. This increases
permeability, which is not desirable in this application. It also increases the risk
of a flash-set. So mix cement with water first, and then add bentonite.
 There is no exact quantity of bentonite needed. The amount will vary with the
bentonite itself, the method of mixing, and the pH of the water. If you have a
Marsh funnel, the Marsh number of the liquid grout should be about 55 seconds.

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 Taking Readings
Introduction Drilling and backfilling a borehole temporarily changes the pore-water pressure in
the ground. In the case of multi-level piezometers, some time is required for the
grout to cure. Wait for the natural pore-water pressure to recover before taking ini-
tial readings.
Recovery of the natural pore-water pressure may take a day or longer, depending
on the permeability of the soil. Recovery is signaled by stable readings over a period
of a few days.

VW Data Recorder 1. Connect signal cable to the data recorder.

Binding Posts Possible Wire Colors

VW Orange Red
VW White & Orange Black
TEMP Blue White
TEMP White & Blue Green
SHIELD Shield Shield

2. Choose Hz + RTD or Hz + Thermistor.

3. Select the 1400-3500 Hz range.
4. The recorder displays a pressure reading in Hz
and a temperature reading in degrees C.

Retired Readouts Manuals for retired readouts are available from the Slope Indicator website.

Data Loggers  Instructions the VW MiniLogger can be found in the VW MiniLogger manual,
available on the Slope Indicator web site.
 Instructions for Campbell Scientific data loggers can be found in the Tech Notes
section of the Slope Indicator web site.

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 Data Reduction
Calibration Record Each VW piezometer has a serial number and a unique calibration.

Serial Number The serial number is found near the top of the page. Use the sensor serial number
to match each sensor with its calibration record.

Calibration Factors ABC Factors: These factors are used to convert Hz readings to units of pressure,
such as kPa or psi. If only small changes in water temperature are expected, ABC
factors, which offer no temperature correction, should work as well as TI factors.
TI Factors: These factors are also used to convert Hz readings to units of pressure,
but use temperature readings from the built-in thermistor to provide temperature
compensation. If the large changes in water temperature are expected, TI factors
should provide better results.

Summary of Results This table of recorded values shows the pressure applied by the calibration device,
the frequency output of the sensor, and the pressure calculated by applying the cal-
ibration factors. It also shows error, the difference between the applied pressure and
the calculated pressure, as a percent of the full range of the sensor.

Using ABC Factors Apply ABC factors to convert Hz readings to units of pressure
Pressure = A x Hz2 + B x Hz + C

Where:
Hz is the frequency reading in Hertz
A, B, and C are ABC factors on the sensor calibration record

Using TI Factors Apply TI factors to convert Hz readings to units of pressure.

Pressure = C0 + (C1 x Hz) + (C2 x T) + (C3 x Hz2) + C4 x Hz x T) + (C5 x T2)
Where:
Hz is the frequency reading in Hertz,
T is the temperature in degrees C from the built-in temperature sensor, and C0 through
C5 are TI factors on the sensor calibration record.

Calculating To calculate changes in pressure, subtract the initial reading from the current read-
Changes ing. A positive value indicates increased pressure. A negative reading indicates
decreased pressure.
Pressure = Pressure current - Pressure initial

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 Acceptance Tests
Introduction The main purpose of an acceptance test is to provide reasonable assurance that a
sensor is functioning properly.
The piezometer is shipped in protective foam and signal cable is coiled and tied.
When you receive the piezometer, bring it indoors or move it into the shade and
allow a few hours for it to reach ambient temperature. There is no need to remove
the foam or untie the cable.

Operational 1. Connect the end of the signal cable to your readout and take a reading. Check
Check that the reading is stable. You now know that the piezometer is operational.
2. Note the serial number, Hz reading, the temperature, and the barometric
pressure at the time of the reading.
3. The Hz reading should be relatively close to the zero reading on the calibration
record. Higher altitudes or higher temperatures than those at calibration will
cause the reading to be lower than on the calibration record.

Zero Check 1. Let the piezometer adjust to ambient temperature. Do not handle the piezometer
body during the test.
2. Connect the signal cable to readout and obtain a frequency reading. Check that
you have obtained a repeatable reading.
3. Apply calibration factors to convert the frequency to a pressure reading in psi.
4. If your local elevation is above sea level, the pressure reading that you obtain will
most likely be negative because the sensor calibration is referenced to one stan-
dard atmosphere (sea level). To calculate a correction for your elevation, allow-
ing 0.5 psi for every 1,000 feet of elevation above sea level (1.15 mb per 10 m).
Add the correction to your reading. For example, if you are at 5,000 feet, you
would add a correction of 2.5 psi to the pressure reading. (See the chapter on
data reduction for more details). To make a more precise check, you would cor-
rect for the exact altitude, the barometric pressure, and the temperature.
5. The piezometer is working satisfactorily if the difference between the corrected
pressure and zero is within 2 percent of the full scale of the piezometer (2 psi for
a 100 psi piezometer).

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 Diagnostics
Introduction Perform the tests below to diagnose what is wrong with your piezometer.
Unfortunately, after the instrument has been installed, there is rarely any
remedial action possible.

No Reading Set your handheld multi meter to a low-ohm range (5k ohm).
 Measure the resistance between the two VW wires (orange and white-and-
orange). A normal reading should be about 300 ohms. If the reading is very high
or infinite, the coil is damaged (or the cable is severed). If the reading is very low,
the cable may have been crushed and a short has developed.
 Measure the resistance between the temperature sensor wires (blue and white).
Thermistors should read about 3000 ohms. RTDs should read about 2000 ohms.
If the reading is very high or infinite, the temperature device is damaged (or the
cable is severed). If the reading is very low, the cable may have been crushed and
a short has developed.

Unstable Reading Set your handheld multimeter to a high range (10 or 20 M ohm).
 Measure the resistance between a VW wire and a Temp wire. The reading should
be infinite or out of range.
 Measure the resistance between any of the colored wires and the drain (shield)
wire. The reading should be infinite or out of range.
 Measure the resistance between the shield wires of two installed VW sensors.
Wires must be disconnected from data logger or terminal box to make this test.
The reading should be very high or infinite. A lower reading indicates the pres-
ence of a ground loop.
 Other sources of unstable readings are electrical noise from nearby power lines,
radio transmitters, or motors. Also, over ranged or shocked instruments can
exhibit this problem.

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