In our last blog, we saw how borehole extensometer is installed with the help of fibreglass connecting rods. Today, we look at the extensometer installation with stainless steel connecting rod assembly.
Mechanical Borehole extensometer Model EDS-63UD measures the displacement taking place in a borehole with reference to time. It helps to accurately measure the change in distance between various anchors and monitor GL their relative displacement with time.It is usually assumed that the deepest anchor is in the stable ground and so any change in anchor spacing is interpreted as sag of roof bed, movement of the sidewall or slope, settlement of foundation etc.
Procedure for extensometer installation with stainless steel connecting rod assembly.
1. The first step of the extensometer installation is to sort out the components that are required for completing individual borehole extensometer assemblies in individual groups.
Our connecting rods are available in 1, 2 and 3 m lengths with an M6 x 12 mm male thread at one end and an M6 x 15 mm female thread at the other end. To give you an example, in case the extensometer is 16 m long, it can be modelled with five connecting rods of 3 m and one connecting rod of 1 m length threaded to an anchor.
NOTE: A special fraction length connecting rod is provided for borehole extensometer assembly that needs depth in a fraction of a metre.
NOTE: Encardio-rite measures the depth of the anchor as the distance from the mouth of the hole to the near end of the anchor.
2. Extensometers are installed with the deepest anchor first and then to the shortest anchor. The longest connecting rod of the deepest extensometer is threaded to the anchor. Next, use Loctite 577 to seal the thread.
NOTE: To seal the connecting rod to the anchor, or to connect rod threads, always use Loctite 577 as a sealant.
3. Cut a PVC Rigid pipe at least 3m long by 150 mm from the plain end. The opposite end contains a socket which is used to connect to the next PVC pipe. Place this 2.85m long PVC pipe on the connecting rod and use Loctite 577 to fix it to the end of the anchor.
Use Mahendra’s M-seal compound to give it a good fix, in case the PVC pipe is loose over the anchor end. Make sure the PVC pipe is firm and robust since we don’t want any grout escaping from it.
NOTE: The joint between PVC pipe and anchor should be sealed completely to prevent any grout leakage.
4. A flexible PVC grout tube of 30 kg/cm2 burst pressure rating (12.5 mm bore x 2 mm wall thickness) around 2 m longer than the length of the deepest anchor is used for this step. Use the PVC tube and fix it by rubber bands or tape to the anchor in a manner that it is around 50 mm beyond the far end of the anchor.
Also Read: Borehole Extensometer Installation procedure with Fibreglass Rod Assembly
NOTE: Make sure the PVC tube is lightly gripped to the anchor as the tubing is withdrawn as the grout is filled.
5. Cautiously push the anchor, PVC pipe assembly, connecting rod, and the grout pipe inside the borehole.
6. Use Loctite 577 to thread another connecting rod of the required length. Continue doing so until all the connecting rods are assembled while being attentive that they are properly enclosed with PVC protective rigid pipe. Use any PVC jointing compound or Loctite 577 to seal PVC to PVC pipe. When you reach the last connecting rod, make sure that the overall length of the PVC tubing is 150 mm shorter than the length of the connecting rods
7. Use the rubber boot to slide over the connecting rod and then seal it over the PVC tubing face with Loctite 577. Make sure to leave the extensometer end around 300mm outside the face of the housing.
NOTE: Precaution should be taken during extensometer installation to ensure that the assembly is not dropped into the borehole accidentally. You can safety rope or clamps to secure the assembly.
Safety clamps are available from Encardio-rite. They have a groove that fits into the spanner slot on the connecting rod.
8. Assemble the next longest anchor assembly using the same procedure as mentioned on Steps 3-7. Use the same steps for installing the other anchor assemblies also.
9. It is important to mark the connecting rods based on their depth. Use tape and paper, marking the deepest extensometer anchor assembly as “1”, and then 2, 3…and so on.
NOTE: For vertical downhole, a grout tube with one end fixed to the deepest anchor is preferred. Tubing is drawn up from borehole as grout is pumped in.
In some cases, a second shorter grout tube is used by fixing it to an anchor about halfway down the length of the extensometer. This is useful is placed where a longer tube possess some ...[Continue Reading]
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