Automated Pressuremeter Inflation-Deflation Controller System to Determine in Situ Soil Strength and Deformation Properties
Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for providing a compact, lightweight, handheld pressuremeter controller to perform a soil balloon test with a probe placed into soil, to determine soil strengths and/or stiffnesses/and/or deformations values of the soil. The controller inflates and deflates the balloon through a tubing a quick connect attachment and internal piston-cylinder and tubing components. The controller has a switch, which when activated allows the fully saturated automated device linear or step motor to inject water into the probe while soil resistance pressures and balloon volumes are recorded. Water, or a similar fluid, is injected into the probe until it reaches the prescribed volume. Once that volume is achieved, the motors are controlled to deflate the balloon and the test data is converted from pressure and volume into stress and strain and then to values for soil stiffness and strength.
1 . A compact portable relatively lightweight soil strength/stiffness pressuremeter system for determining soil strengths and/or stiffnesses/and/or deformations of soil, comprising of:
a controller unit housing a computer, electric motor, tubing with connectors to a fluid supply with pump, and rechargeable battery power supply;
a ground engaging probe having a balloon to be placed into soil; and
a variable-length conduit attached between the pump in the controller unit and the balloon, wherein the pump-to-pump electric motor pumps fluid through the conduit into the balloon, which is inflated and deflated from the fluid supply, and data is provided to the computer which calculates soil stiffness, soil strength, and soil deformations of the soil.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes:
tubing.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the tubing includes lengths between approximately 30 to approximately 5 feet long.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor includes:
stepper or linear motors.
5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a quick connect connection between the variable length conduit and the housing.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the pump includes:
a cylinder and piston.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a data acquisition card.
8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a switch, on the housing, which when activated allows the motor to inject fluid into the probe while soil resistance pressures and balloon volumes are recorded.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a handheld transport container with a handle, the container having dimensions of approximately 8 inches by approximately 18 inches by approximately 24 inches.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the container includes an overall weight between approximately 25 to approximately 35 pounds.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one USB or similar port on the housing for allowing said data to be downloaded from the computer.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further including:
a side port on the housing for recharging the battery.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply includes:
a water supply.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the data includes:
soil resistance pressures (in Units such as pounds per square inch or kN per meter squared and balloon volumes (in Units such as cubic inches or cubic centimeters) are recorded.
15 . A compact portable system for determining soil strengths and stiffnesses and deformations of soil without emitting radiation into surrounding soil comprising of:
a controller unit housing a motor, tubing with connectors to a fluid supply with pump, and rechargeable battery power supply;
a ground engaging probe having an inflatable member to be placed into soil; and
a conduit attached between the pump in the controller unit and the inflatable member, wherein the electric motor pumps fluid through the conduit into the inflatable member, which is inflated and deflated from the fluid supply, and sensed data is used to provide soil stiffness, soil strength, and soil deformations of the soil, without emitting any radiation into the soil.
16 . The compact probe of claim 15 , wherein the sensed data includes:
soil resistance pressures (in Units such as pounds per square inch or kN per meter squared and balloon volumes (in Units such as cubic inches or cubic centimeters) are recorded.
17 . The compact probe of claim 15 , wherein the inflatable member includes:
a balloon.
18 . The compact probe of claim 15 , further comprising:
a computer to provide the soil stiffness, the soil strength, and the soil deformations of the soil.
19 . A method for determining soil strengths and stiffnesses and deformations of soil without emitting radiation into surrounding soil comprising the steps of:
providing a ground engaging probe having an inflatable member to be placed into soil;
providing a controller unit housing a motor, tubing with connectors to a fluid supply with pump, and rechargeable battery power supply;
pumping fluid through the conduit into the inflatable member, which is inflated and deflated from the fluid supply; and
sensing data from the probe to provide soil stiffness, soil strength, and soil deformations of the soil, without emitting any radiation into the soil.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the sensed data includes:
soil resistance pressures (in Units such as pounds per square inch or kN per meter squared and balloon volumes (in Units such as cubic inches or cubic centimeters).