What Are Tiltmeters

And Where Are They Used?

 1 INTRODUCTION

2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT

TYPES OF TILTMETERS?
TABLE OF
CONTENT
3 ADVANTAGES OF
ENCARDIO-RITE’S TILTMETERS

4 APPLICATIONS OF TILTMETERS
IN THE GEOTECHNICAL FIELD
1 INTRODUCTION

Have you ever wondered how do geologists get to know if the volcano is about to
erupt or not or whether a building is about to fall or not? Well, all of this is measured
using a geotechnical monitoring instrument known as tiltmeters.
1 INTRODUCTION

Tiltmeters are a type of inclinometer that continuously monitor even the minor
rotation, deflection, & deformation of retaining walls, diaphragms, volcanoes, dams,
landslides etc.

Beam Sensor, on the other hand, is similar to an El tiltmeter, designed to monitor

differential movement and tilting of structures.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

EL Tiltmeter & EL Beam Sensor

The EL tiltmeters contain an electrolytic tilt sensor housed in a compact, rugged, and
weatherproof enclosure.

Encardio-rite’s Model EAN-31EL EL tilt sensor is designed for measuring very small
tilts, of the order of half a degree, with a high resolution.

It is used to monitor rotation and deflection of structures such as buildings, retaining

walls etc. in a vertical plane. These are normally used as a stand-alone unit for
measuring tilt.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

There are two ways in which the tilt sensor is used to measure the amount of tilt.
One of them is by directly attaching it to the structure using suitable mounting
brackets or fixed to horizontal or vertical beams.

The Model EAN-31EL-B beam sensor consists of the Model EAN-30EL, electrolytic
tilt sensor mounted on a beam of fixed gage length and suitable mounting hardware
for securing the beams to the structure.

The beam sensors are commonly linked together to give a differential displacement
profile.

An array of linked beam sensors allows the vertical settlement profile along the array
line to be determined.

The Model EAN-41EL-B tiltmeter is designed to monitor inclination and vertical

rotation of structures.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

It is a high-resolution tilt sensor and rugged in construction. The electrolytic tiltmeter

is contained inside a 1, 2 or 3 m long beam.

The Model EDI-53ELV read-out logger is used to read voltage output from the sensor.
The output can also be monitored or recorded at any remote location by an
automatic data acquisition system or automatic data loggers.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Portable Tiltmeter

The Encardio-Rite Model EAN-70M portable tiltmeter is designed for monitoring

changes in the inclination of any structure. It is a high-resolution tilt sensor using the
inclinometer probes proven technology to function.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

This tiltmeter is ruggedly built and possesses excellent temperature stability. Tilt
changes in structures may occur due to construction activities such as excavation,
tunnelling and de-watering that affects the ground supporting the structure.

The loading of a structure, such as loading of a dam during impoundment, loading of

a diaphragm wall during excavation or loading of a bridge deck due to wind and
traffic can also cause changes in tilt.

Data from Model EAN-70M tiltmeter provides early warning of threatening

deformation, allowing time for corrective action to be taken.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Uniaxial/Biaxial Tiltmeter without SDI-12 Interface

The Encardio-Rite Model EAN-90M/92M tiltmeter is suitable for monitoring

inclination and vertical rotation in structures.

It is a high-resolution tiltmeter, sturdy in construction and with superior temperature

stability.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

The Model EAN-90M tiltmeter consists of a primary sensor, mounted inside

stainless steel housing. The sensor output is 4 V nominal at ± 15°. This output can
be carried over long distances without any signal degradation.

The sensor renders a comparatively low-cost system which offers an excellent

resolution, long term stability and low thermal sensitivity.
The tiltmeter (uniaxial and biaxial) is installed on a vertical or horizontal surface
through an adjustable bracket and expandable anchor.

Movement of the structure causes a shift in the tilt of the tiltmeter, which results in a
difference in the output of the sensor.

Measurements can be made on horizontal or vertical surfaces. Subsequent sets of

readings explain how the structure is behaving and indicate permanent
deformations as time progresses.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Uniaxial/Biaxial Tiltmeter with SDI-12 Interface

The Model EAM-92M tiltmeter is available with SDI-12 interface such that all sensors
can be connected through a single bus cable to the data logger.

The SDI-12 bus cable from different tilt sensors can also be connected to the same
data logger.

Although tiltmeter with SDI12 interface is a bit costlier, the savings in cable costs
and the cost of the required multiplexers in the data logger reduce this to a larger
extent.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Box-type Tiltmeter with SDI-12 Interface

The Encardio-rite Model EAN-91M/EAN-93M box type tiltmeters are suitable for
monitoring minor changes in the inclination and vertical rotation of structures.

The tiltmeters provide a relatively low-cost system which offers excellent resolution
and long term stability.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

The Model EAN-91M/93M tiltmeter can be directly fixed on a wall/structure. One can
also the EAN-91M tiltmeter to a beam of length 1 m, 2 m, and 3 m and use as a
beam sensor for monitoring of differential movement and rotation in structures.

It is also used for monitoring deflection and deformation of retaining walls.

EAN-91M beam sensor can be mounted both vertically and horizontally. The
individual beam sensors can be linked together to give a profile.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

MEMS Beam Sensor

The Encardio-Rite Model EAN-41M/EAN-42M beam sensor consists of a MEMS

sensor contained inside a beam of a specific length.

It is installed on the structures for monitoring any differential movement or tilting of

structures.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

It can be mounted both vertically and horizontally and has long-term reliability.
These beam sensors consist of a MEMS sensor housed inside the beam. Model
EAN-42M comes with an SDI-12 digital interface such that all sensors can be
connected through a single bus cable to the data logger.

The beam sensors are mounted in vertical strings for monitoring deflection and
deformation of retaining walls, sheet piling, etc.

The beam sensor can be also be installed in long horizontal strings to measure
differential settlement along railway tracks, tunnels, pipelines, embankments, etc.

Data from beam sensor provides early warning of threatening deformations,

allowing time for corrective action to be taken.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Box-type Tiltmeter with MEMS Beam Sensor

The Encardio-rite Model EAN-91M/EAN-93M box type tiltmeter and

EAN-91MB/EAN-93M-B beam sensor are designed for monitoring minute changes in
the inclination and vertical rotation of structures such as buildings, dams, bridges,
tunnels etc.

These tilt sensors consist of a box-type tiltmeter installed on a MEMS beams sensor
(1, 2 or 3m long) respectively.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

This tiltmeter is used for monitoring of differential movement and rotation in

structures. The beam sensors are also used for monitoring deflection and
deformation of retaining walls.

These can be mounted both vertically and horizontally. The individual beam sensors
can be used in a linked form to give a profile.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Tiltmeter with Automatic Data Logger

The Model ESDL-30MT tiltmeter consists of a uniaxial or biaxial MEMS tilt sensor
mounted inside an automatic SDI-12 digital interface data logger. It is a complete
unit in itself that monitors tilt at any location.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

The tiltmeter features a wide operating temperature range, dependable stand-alone

operation, low power consumption, compatibility with many telecommunication op-
https://www.encardio.com/geotechnical-instruments/inclinometers/

tions and, flexibility to support a variety of measurement and control applications.

All the measured data is stored together with the current date, time, battery voltage
and, a data record in the internal non-volatile memory of the data logger which is
transferable to a remote server/PC through GSM/GPRS service.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Wireless Tiltmeter

The Encardio-rite Model EAN-95MW wireless tilt meter consists of a MEMS sensor
with 4 V nominal outputs at ± 15°.

This output can be transferred through a mesh wireless network over long distances
without any signal degradation.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Every unit is individually calibrated to provide high system precision and

repeatability.

These tiltmeters are fixed on to a vertical or horizontal surface either directly using 4
mounting screws or fasteners or using a mounting kit that allows more flexibility in
mounting the tiltmeter.

Movement of the structure causes a change in the tilt of the tiltmeter, which results
in a change in the output of the sensor.

Measurement can be made on horizontal or vertical surfaces. Subsequent sets of

readings show how the structure is behaving and will indicate permanent
deformation as time progresses.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

Wireless Triaxial Tiltmeter

Sensing the three-dimensional world requires 3-D sensors, and, thus, the Model
EAN-96MW wireless triaxial tiltmeter is designed for remote monitoring of 3D
movements in structures, distortions in a tunnel, etc.
2 WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TILTMETERS?

The tiltmeter combines high precision MEMS tilt sensor with radio transmission
(mesh) network to provide accurate 3D movement data.

With the real-time data collected from EAN-96MW wireless 3D tilt meter, the
authorities can know about the slightest of change taking place in the project.

This allows one to take timely decisions, increase safety, reduce project delays and
be more cost-effective.
3 ADVANTAGES OF ENCARDIO-RITE’S TILTMETERS

Encardio-Rite’s Models of tilt sensors and beam sensors are one of the best in the
industry because of the following impeccable features:

• The tiltmeter sensor and beam sensor provides reliable and high-resolution
readings.
• The sensors are ruggedly built with robust weather-proof construction.
• The tiltmeter and beam sensor is easy to install as the tilt plate can be anchored to
structure or even bonded in case of a smooth surface.
• It’s quite easy to take readings from the sensors via the remote data logger.
• The Model EAN-80V is built using proven vibrating wire technology
• The sensors are economical to use as one tilt meter can be used to monitor any
number of inexpensive tilt plates.
4 APPLICATIONS OF TILTMETERS IN THE GEOTECHNICAL FIELD

Applications of Tiltmeters in the Geotechnical Field

• Monitoring vertical rotation, deflection and deformation of retaining walls.

• Monitoring differential settlement along railway tracks.
• Monitoring stability of structures in landslide areas.
• Monitoring tunnels for convergence and other movements.
• Evaluating the performance of bridges and struts under load.
• Monitoring critical buildings, structures, utilities etc. located in the zone of influence
of cut and cover excavation/tunnelling activities.
• Monitoring inclination and rotation of dams, piers and piles, etc.
• Monitoring deformation or structural changes in volcanoes
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