G MS THESIS_final version_Maxim Prokudin.pdf - Digital Repository ...

59Data Collection and SensorsHaving developed the pier loading and test bed preparation mechanisms of the pier, the nextstage involved accommodation of load and deflection data collecting sensors. While theprocess of applying the piston of hydraulic jack directly to the top of the pier would have hadno room left for implementation of data collecting sensors, the load application was, thus,developed through an indirect approach. The load applied from the hydraulic jack was,therefore, first transferred to the pancake load cell which in its turn was mounted on top of ahollow steel casing cylinder that in its turn contained a displacement transducer. The entireset-up of pier loading mechanism can be seen in Figure 26.(a)(b)Figure 26: Load cell and LVDT sensor set-up (a) test set-up, (b) in useThe following discussion presents detailed information on all the components of dataacquisition system utilized in this research.Data loggerThe data collecting device was selected to be an IOtech DAQ 3000 Data Logger (See Figure27). The data logger was equipped with analog and digital input and output ports, howeverthe load cell and LVDT could only be connected in the analog mode. A series of signalamplifiers and power supplies were also utilized for the purpose of successfully amplifying