The 9th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Data Acquisition and Advanced Computing Systems: Technology and Applications

21-23 September, 2017, Bucharest, Romania

Application of a Phase-Measuring Method in the

Inclinometric Systems of Geotechnical
Monitoring
Anastasia V. Grecheneva 1, Oleg R. Kuzichkin 1, Nikolay V. Dorofeev 2, Vladimir T. Eremenko 3
1
Belgorod National Research University, 85 Pobedy st., Belgorod 308015, [email protected]
2
Vladimir State University named after A. G. and N. G. Stoletovs, 23 Orlovskaya st., Murom 602264, [email protected]
3
Orel State Technical University, 29 Naugorskoe highway, Orel 302020, [email protected]

Abstract—The article considers the issue of the facilities [4]. For example, the tolerance for deviation
possibility of applying the phase-measuring method in from the vertical for a nuclear reactor is only 0.5 mm,
inclinometric systems of geotechnical monitoring. The main when diameter equal to nearly 5 meters.
problems with use of the inclinometric systems of Importance of inclinometric monitoring advances
geotechnical monitoring. The causes, causing the occurrence
of angular measurement errors. The factors affecting the
for the technical objects located within multiplicative
accuracy of inclinometric control. A new approach of instability areas. Such areas appear due to the effect of
construction for inclinometric control systems with the use different external disturbing factors (temperature,
of digital accelerometers. This approach is characterized by humidity, etc.), and climate changes can influence on
using the primary data processing algorithm that is based activity of the disturbances. In particular, variable
on a phase-measuring method. The block diagram of the patterns of space heterogeneities of annual warming-
organization phase-measuring method of inclinometric cooling cycles [5] and abrupt temperature shifts within
control. interseasonal hysteresis regularities [6] are typical for the
Vladimir Region, where our experimental tests are made.
Keywords—geotechnical monitoring, phase-measuring
method, inclinometric systems, measuring system, natural-
Such qualitative changes in local climate dynamics
technical systems. introduce essential corrections in economic estimations
of climate-related damages [7].
So, the earlier some degradation of a technical object
I. INTRODUCTION
is identified, the more chance to realize the corresponding
One of the main tasks for geotechnical monitoring of compensations. In this context, the accuracy of
the natural-technical systems (NTS) is a continuous inclinometric control can assist to prevent more
observing of deformation processes in the "geological emergencies at least. The aim of this work is to study a
environment -technical object" system. The task of new approach for the construction of inclinometric control
organizing the deformation control is achieved by using systems based on digital accelerometers. This approach is
of tiltmetric, deformographic, seismic and electrometric characterized by the use of phase-measuring method in
methods of geotechnical and geodynamic control [1]. The data preprocessing and enhances the accuracy and noise
universal method of observing geodeformation processes immunity of the measuring system.
and angular changes of technical objects
parameters(defining deflections and strains bearing II. PRECISION PROBLEMS OF INCLINOMETRIC
structures, beams, foundations and basements, the stress- GEOTECHNICAL MONITORING SYSTEMS
strain state of structures and high-rise buildings, bridges), Technical and operational characteristics of the
is a high-precision inclinometry [2, 3]. This is stated in inclinometric system is determines possibility of use in
the regulations for organization of the geotechnical the geotechnical control in NTS. In many ways, these
monitoring in industrial and civil construction and characteristics depend on the metrological parameters of
nuclear energy (static and dynamic monitoring of the transducers (Table I).
operated nuclear facilities on STO-SRO-S 60542960 The main metrological parameters of the measuring
00043-2015). systems are their measurement uncertainty [8, 9].
At present moment the inclinometric control of Presented inclinometric systems having a minimal
geotechnical objects by means of magnetically or gyro deviation measurement accuracy (from ± 0,001º to ±
sensors. Requirements for the accuracy and reliability of 0,01º), however, they are achieved by reducing the
measurement data obtained with the help of modern measurement range (from 0,5º to 50º), which is
measuring inclinometers, are very high. This is especially technologically inconvenient in the case of practical use
true for high-risk facilities, such as nuclear power (multiple systems of one class to expand the

978-1-5386-0697-1/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE 168

measurement range must be used). Accordingly, the
systems having the highest measurement range (from ± Z
90º to ± 180º) are less reliable due to the high level of   arctg (1)
error (up to 1,0º).
H

TABLE I. METROLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INCLINOMETRIC

SYSTEMS Given a set of operating conditions, requirements
imposed, measuring ranges, specifications, design
Device Measuremen Measuremen
Company features and metrological characteristics, the most
Model t Range, º t Error, º
Research and promising trend in modern development inclinometric
Tilt meters systems - is the use of the accelerometer in
production
IN-01 and ±90; ±180 0,05 - 1,0
company "CONE"
IN-02 microelectronic execution on MEMS-technology [11].
(Moscow) However, the resolution capacity of accelerometric
KYOVA (Japan) BKJ-A ±10 ±0,01
inclinometer is limited to the stability of the sensitivity
BG electric E.K
(Germany)
Baumer 360 0,1-0,2 factor (especially temperature stability), the
POSITAL ANGUSEN accelerometric base and resistance to vibration effects
± 30 ±0,001
FRABA (USA) S [9, 12]. The use of filtering algorithms can partially
TAYLOR
± 1600 eliminate the vibration effect on angle measurement
HOBSON Tralyvel 6 ± 1-4 seconds results [13]. Solution of temperature stability problems
seconds
(England)
ROCTEST TUFFTIL performed by using the temperature correction
± 50 0,0001 - 0,01 algorithms, for this purpose in accelerometers are inserted
(Canada) 801
the temperature sensors [14]. However, even their use
III. APPLICATION OF A PHASE-MEASURING METHOD IN limits the metrological parameters accelerometric
THE INCLINOMETRIC SYSTEMS OF GEOTECHNICAL inclinometer used in geotechnical monitoring systems.
MONITORING Furthermore, there is a risk of error occurrence caused by
The operating principle of inclinometers in the operation of division on a small value in the
geotechnical monitoring systems based on the trigonometric arc tangent transformation [15]. The
determination of deflection angles of the object from the probability of such error arises in connection with the
vertical in different planes, and determination of the result of obtaining various values of acceleration,
rotation angle relative to the reference coordinate system including close to zero.
associated with the Earth [10]. At the same time, as the One solution to this problem is the use of phase-
basic coordinate system, related to the non-collinear measuring method. Implementation of phase-measuring
vectors, are adopted: a vector acceleration of gravity method of the rotation angle in the inclinometric control
oriented orthogonally to the horizontal plane and directed system based on the collecting dynamic data algorithm,
which is based on the direct conversion of the signals
towards the center of the Earth g ; the vector of Earth's from accelerometers in phase sine wave [16], by
angular velocity  (Fig. 1). multiplying of the signals a x1 , a y1 , a z1 , bx 2 ,by 2 , bz 2 to
signals sin t and cos t quadrature generator (QG)
at a frequency multiple of the reference frequency
generator (FG) (Fig. 2).

Figure 1. Basic coordinate system. T is the induction vector of the

natural geomagnetic field of the Earth; Z and H are the vertical and
horizontal component of vectors

According to this method, the deviation angle of the

accelerometer axis on the direction of the gravitational Figure 2. The sсheme of algorithm of collection and pre-processing
acceleration is determined by the expression: data inclinometric control

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 According to the algorithm, the rotation angle in the IV. EVALUATION OF METROLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF
accelerometric goniometer is determined by the phase THE ACCELEROMETRIC METHOD
difference between the measured and the reference The metrological parameters are estimated on the basis
signals. Therefore, a signal proportional to the angle of the following equations [17]:
without affecting instability coefficients transmitter
branches is generated at the output by summing the
received harmonic signal. Ux
Figure 3 shows the principle of the inclinometric U y  kA A A g (2)
control with the use of accelerometer transducers and
phase-measuring method algorithm. In the normal position Yz
of the control object, the acceleration values coincide with
the acceleration of free fall (Figure 3a). Once the control
object deviates from its normal position, between the
where U x ,U y ,U z are the signals from the
accelerometer axes and the direction of the gravitational accelerometers; k is the sensitivity coefficient of the
acceleration vector the angles  and  are formed accelerometer measurements in three dimensions
(Fig. 3b).  
k  k x , k y , k z ; A A are the tensor conversion
factor at the corners  and ; A is the tensor
accelerometer errors for measuring unit vectors; g is
the acceleration of gravity.
From (2), the errors for the standard method of
accelerometer transformation (1) are determined from the
expression:

1
  (sin k x  cos k y ) (3)
sin 
 cos k x  sin k y   
    (4)
 cos k x 

Estimate of the temperature coefficient of error, given

in [18 - 20] is 0,5º when a sensitivity factor k x  0,5% .
In the case of the use of phase-measuring method
described in the article, the measurement error can be
substantially reduced by using the following expressions:

 k y  k x
   (5)
2 (1  k y )  (1  k x )

 k x  k y
   (6)
2 (1  k y )  (1  k x )

As a result, the measurement accuracy will be

significantly reduced  ,   0,3  102 degrees at
k x  0,5% .
Figure 3. Inclinometric control with the use of phase-measuring V. CONCLUSION
method. 1 is the object of control; 2.3 are the accelerometers; ,  are
the angles of the control object, g is the acceleration of gravity Thus, application of the phase-measuring method
discussed inclination increases measurement accuracy

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and eliminates the influence of the multiplicative from the bifurcation analysis viewpoint?” Int. J. of Bifurcation and
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This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of SGEM’2016, June 28-July 6, 2016, book 6, vol. 1, pp. 383-390.
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