Work performed
- Installation of monitoring instruments
- Calibration and programming of the software
Scope
While rehabilitating cement silos that were on the brink of collapse, TALOS had to monitor how the silos behaved — settlement, tilting and cracking — as crews worked in and around them. Continuous monitoring with a data logger and geotechnical sensors provided the understanding needed to work safely and allowed for an emergency response if required.
Access
Instrument positions determined the access method. Tiltmeters and some crack meters were installed on top of four silos, reached by technicians in a crane-hoisted man-basket. The H-level settlement instruments were installed underneath the silos, accessible from the ground.
Solution
TALOS engineers have extensive experience installing, troubleshooting and configuring data loggers. Tiltmeters on top of four silos monitored any biaxial movement; electronic crack meters were placed on the cracks considered dangerous during operation and reinforcement.
To monitor differential settlement during stabilization, an H-level liquid level system was installed at the base: a series of gauges hydraulically connected to a reference tank in a stable location, each with a high-resolution pressure sensor measuring the elevation difference between gauge and tank. All sensors were connected to a Sisgeo OMNIAlog data logger.
Results
The monitoring equipment was installed safely and successfully, making continuous monitoring of the silos possible. An alarm system triggers when set parameters are reached — essential for an immediate evacuation — and daily reports on the silos' behaviour are available from the data logger.