Penetrometer
AssigneeAlma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
InventorsIrene Rocchi, Laura Tonni, Guido Gottardi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are a testing instrument and method for checking the degree of saturation of a pressure sensor unit of a piezocone.
Claims15
A testing instrument for checking a degree of saturation of a pressure sensor unit of a piezocone, comprising:
- an annular structure which extends around a passage adapted to receive the piezocone by insertion into the passage;
- a chamber, at least partly inside the annular structure, for containing a measuring liquid;
- a membrane which delimits the chamber, defining an annular surface facing the passage, to be operatively in contact with a porous annular element of the pressure sensor unit of the piezocone;
- a pressurizer in fluid communication with the chamber and configured to transmit a pressure pulse of predetermined intensity to the membrane through the measuring liquid contained in the chamber.
A testing method for checking a degree of saturation of a pressure sensor unit of a piezocone, the pressure sensor unit comprising a porous annular element whose lateral outside surface defines a surface portion of the piezocone located around an axis of extension of the piezocone, a pressure transducer inside the piezocone and a duct interposed between the porous annular element and the pressure transducer in such a way that the pressure transducer can measure a pressure applied on the surface portion, the method comprising:
- generating a pressure pulse of known intensity;
- transmitting the pressure pulse to the lateral outside surface of the porous annular element;
- acquiring a pressure value measured by the pressure transducer in response to transmitting the pressure pulse;
- comparing the acquired pressure value with the known intensity of the pressure pulse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.