Design, construction, and validation of an experimental inclinometer probe

Abstract

The inclinometer probe is used to measure angle variations along a soil profile. These variations can be transformed into horizontal displacements along the profile depth, enabling the understanding of the deformation of geotechnical structures (e.g., tailings dams, embankment dams, rockfill dams, and excavations) and natural slopes. Such knowledge can guide preventive and corrective actions and mitigation measures to reduce the severity of socioeconomic and environmental impacts. In this study, a low-cost, reduced-dimension inclinometer probe was developed and validated. Accessible technologies (MEMS inclinometer sensor, microprocessor, logic level converters, communication module, and other electronic components) were used for the probe. The sensor reading programming was developed using Python language and interpreted using an Excel spreadsheet. The probe was calibrated on a three-dimensional measurement table with the aid of a mechanical device to stabilize its inclination and validated by comparison of its output with those of a commercial probe. The probe had a lower cost than commercial probes and generated similar readings, although the reading time was longer due to the increased number of measurements required.