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Monitoring ground movement manually by lowering an inclinometer probe (IP) in a grouted-in-place casing has been in practice for decades. It is possible to install multiple IP units at various depths in an inclinometer casing to allow automated data logging. The high cost and other problems associated with transmitting signals electrically make an automated IP rather impractical for long term and/or massive deployment. In addition to its small size, available technologies allow optical signals to be transmitted over many kilometres and not be affected by electromagnetic interference. The optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) is one of the many available fibre optic sensor technologies. The authors used FBG as a sensing medium and developed a ground movement monitoring device referred to as the FBG segmented deflectometer (FBG-SD). The FBG-SD, designed to be inserted into the conventional inclinometer casing, measures the relative deflection between the segments. The amount of lateral movement is computed on the basis of the distribution of the segmented deflections. To verify the effectiveness of the new system, the authors performed indoor as well as field experiments where results from FBG-SDs were compared with conventional IP readings. This paper introduces the design principles of the FBG-SD and describes the performance of the system in their indoor and field applications.

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A numerical technique that couples the distinct-element and boundary-element methods was developed to simulate a granular soil deposit as a two-dimensional, circular disk assembly. A series of simulated penetration tests of a 60° apex angle cone was performed in normally consolidated and overconsolidated disk assemblies. The simulations allowed the cone penetration mechanisms to be evaluated from microscopic as well as the conventional, continuum mechanics points of view. Results show that the soil loading history can affect the characteristics of the soil failure mechanism and dilatancy. Lateral stress measurement behind the cone base is not sensitive to soil loading history. Finer particles appear to experience higher contact stresses and hence are more likely to be crushed by the cone penetration. Key words : cone penetration, sand, shear strength, loading history, distinct-element method.