Linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) and other metrology tools have many applications in civil engineering and play an important role in the construction, testing and maintenance of buildings and structures. Residential, public, commercial and industrial buildings and structures, such as apartment blocks, hotels, bridges and roads, must be fit for purpose. LVDT technology is integral to achieving and maintaining safety standards and avoiding catastrophic structural failure.
Understanding the properties, movements and limitations of natural and construction materials is vital to ensuring that buildings and structures are safe and fit for purpose. Precision measurement sensors, displacement sensors and transducers play an important role in the provision of this knowledge and the data behind it. LVDT systems are used to:
• Survey mechanical properties of soil and rock of civil engineering sites prior to construction and to carry out laboratory testing of new materials.
• Test for deformation of a structure during the construction phase and the life of the building, detecting motion and potential points of failure.
• Test aggregates and asphalts for small displacement under force applications to monitor and measure material behaviour.
• Test concrete to ensure that it has the correct properties and to fully understand its capabilities.
• Carry out hardness testing, measuring the density of construction materials, such as carbon steel, alloy steel and non-ferrous metals, and testing for physical displacement during construction and structure life.
