Inclinometer - Time Domain Reflectometry Comparative Study: Executive Summary Report

2004PDFTech ReportSargand, Shad M.Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the EnvironmentOhio. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Research and DevelopmentUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationOhio Research Institute for Transportation and the EnvironmentOhioShear strengthSoils by strengthTime domain reflectometersTestingShear strength of soils--TestingInclinometer--TestingTime-domain reflectometry--TestingFHWA/OH-2004/01014798(0)Executive summary report.Slope stability is an ongoing issue inhilly or mountainous terrains with clayrich soil, constructed embankments,fluctuating temperature, and changingsoil moisture conditions. Landslidesconstitute a major geologic hazard,occurring in all 50 states. Accuratelydetermining the shear plane depth in alandslide is needed to devise an effectiveremediation plan.Slope inclinometer probing, thecurrent method for slope movementanalysis, is costly to install and monitor,and it becomes ineffective in measuringlarge lateral deflections. An economicalalternative to monitor slopes is electricalTime Domain Reflectometry (TDR).The cables used to implement TDR inslope studies are inexpensive, simple toinstall, and provide long-termmonitoring of slope movement.Measurements take only seconds, a vastcontrast to the traditional time intensive\u2018cable pull\u2019 process of inclinometerprobing.95