ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Page Count: 7

Water Pressure Measurement with Time Domain Reflectometry Cables

Dowding, CH
Professor, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Huang, F
Geotechnical engineer, American Technical, Anaheim, CA

McComb, PS
Commanding officer, U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Forty,

Abstract

Attributes of the remote measurement of piezometric water pressure and water level with time domain reflectometry (TDR) techniques are investigated. The evaluation includes a two-wire system for unusually small riser tubes as well as parallel wire and air-filled or hollow coaxial cable for typical installations. Comparison of TDR cable and commercial pressure transducer technology shows coaxial cable TDR systems with distance crimps capable of equaling and exceeding the resolution of pressure transducers. Crimps provide permanent distance markers that allow the TDR system to be self-calibrating.

Keywords:
time domain reflectometry, water pressure, coaxial cable, pressure transducer, piezometer, remote operation, multiplexing, telemetry, air-water interface

Paper ID: GTJ11408J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11408J
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