Mechanical formwork pressure sensor for in-situ measurement of fluid pressure during concrete matertal placement and method of using the same

A system for in-situ measurement of hydrostatic pressure inside of a concrete formwork panel, comprising:

• a concrete formwork panel having an opening in an outer face of said concrete formwork panel and an interior wall in contact with curing concrete;
• and
• a mechanical pressure sensor, said mechanical pressure sensor further comprising:
• an outer sensor housing having a housing side wall having an interior side and an exterior side, a housing top wall at a first end of said housing side wall, and said housing side wall defining an open face at a second end of said housing side wall;
• a connecting flange on the exterior of the housing side wall and configured for removable attachment of the mechanical pressure sensor to an outer face of concrete formwork panel, the connecting flange being positioned with respect to the open face of said outer sensor housing so as to position said open face flush with said formwork panel interior wall;
• a pressure plate having a diameter matching a diameter of said open face of said outer sensor housing and positioned to contact concrete at said open face and within the concrete formwork panel to which said mechanical pressure sensor is attached;
• a biasing member biasing said pressure plate toward said open face of said outer sensor housing;
• a cylindrical core affixed to said pressure plate and extending through an opening in said housing top wall;
• and
• a pressure scale on said cylindrical core positioned to indicate a hydrostatic pressure of concrete inside of the concrete formwork panel to which said mechanical pressure sensor is attached;
• wherein said mechanical pressure sensor is removably affixed to said outer face of said concrete formwork panel so that an entire outer face of said pressure plate is in fluid communication with concrete at said open face and inside of said concrete formwork panel.

A method for in-situ measurement of hydrostatic pressure during concrete material placement inside of a concrete formwork panel having an interior wall in contact with curing concrete, comprising the steps of:

• providing a mechanical pressure sensor, said mechanical pressure sensor further comprising:
• an outer sensor housing having a housing side wall having an interior side and an exterior side, a housing top wall at a first end of said housing side wall, and said housing side wall defining an open face at a second end of said housing side wall;
• a connecting flange on the exterior of the housing side wall and configured for removable attachment of the mechanical pressure sensor to an outer face of the concrete formwork panel, the connecting flange being positioned with respect to the open face of said outer sensor housing so as to position said open face flush with said formwork panel interior wall;
• a pressure plate having a diameter matching a diameter of said open face of said outer sensor housing and positioned to contact concrete at said open face and within the concrete formwork panel to which said mechanical pressure sensor is attached;
• a biasing member biasing said pressure plate toward said open face of said outer sensor housing;
• a cylindrical core affixed to said pressure plate and extending through an opening in said housing top wall;
• and
• a pressure scale on said cylindrical core positioned to indicate a hydrostatic pressure of concrete inside of the concrete formwork panel to which said mechanical pressure sensor is attached;
• removably affixing said mechanical pressure sensor to the concrete formwork panel having an opening in an outer face of said concrete formwork panel so that pressure plate is in fluid communication with an interior of said concrete formwork panel;
• pouring liquid concrete into said concrete formwork;
• and
• measuring a fluid pressure of said concrete inside of said concrete formwork based on a position of said pressure scale with respect to said opening in said housing top wall of said mechanical pressure sensor.