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Laboratory Equipment
Acuto Field Laboratory
Rock and melt physics
Strain Gauges
Strain gauges measure the surface deformations (expansions or contractions) of a material caused by mechanical stresses. They operate by changing their electrical resistance in proportion to the experienced strain, thereby converting the deformation into an electrical signal. They are used to monitor the stress and strain state of structures or natural rock systems.
Category
Permanent
Group
Physical Properties
Type
Geotechnical equipment
Rod extensometers
Rod extensometers measure the opening and closing of fractures or discontinuities in rock and structures. They consist of a rigid rod anchored on one side of the fracture and a displacement sensor (often linear) on the other side. They provide critical data on the stability of slopes and civil engineering structures, indicating potential reversible or irreversible displacements.
Category
Permanent
Group
Physical Properties
Type
Geotechnical equipment
Heat cell flux
The heat flux sensor measures the amount of heat from solar radiation passing through its surface. This sensor operates based on the temperature difference across a material with known thermal conductivity.
Category
Permanent
Group
Differential thermal analysis setup
Type
Thermal property measurement equipment
Leaf Wetness transducer
A wetness sensor detects the presence of moisture and the duration of surface wetting due to runoff. The sensor measures the electrical conductivity of a sensitive surface, which changes in the presence of water. This type of sensor is typically installed within rock mass joints to assess and quantify water percolation through the fractured system.
Category
Permanent
Group
Conductivity cell
Type
Electrical property measurement equipment
Analogue modelling of geological processes
Temperature logs
Thermal profile probes measure the temperature distribution along a borehole with variable orientation. They are equipped with temperature sensors positioned at specific intervals, allowing the reconstruction of a thermal profile at depth.
Category
Permanent
Group
Thermal property measurement equipment
Type
Modelling material characterization equipment
Rock temperature transducer
Rock temperature transducers measure the internal temperature of rock mass matrices. These sensors—typically thermistors or thermocouples—are installed in boreholes to monitor thermal variations at known depths
Category
Permanent
Group
Thermal property measurement equipment
Type
Modelling material characterization equipment
High-performance modular camera system
Modular dual-camera photographic system with 8° focal aperture optics for video acquisition or timelapse imaging, providing 2K resolution (dual optics) or 4K resolution (single optic) for high-precision rockfall monitoring through image analysis.Maximum frame rates: MxPEG: 20 fps @ 4K,H.264: 30 fps @ 4K, H.265: 30 fps @ 4K.
Category
Permanent
Group
Monitoring apparatuses
Type
Modelling material characterization equipment
Geo-energy test beds
Thermal-strain monitoring system via FBG Array
The Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) array is a network of optical fiber sensors distributed along measurement sections. Each FBG reflects a specific wavelength, which shifts in response to strain or temperature changes. These sensors enable distributed monitoring over variable distances with high precision for parameters such as strain or temperature in structures, tunnels, or rock masses, providing a continuous and more detailed picture compared to point sensors like strain gauges or extensometers.
Category
Permanent
Group
Distributed Strain Sensing
Type
Distributed Fibre Optic Sensing
Geophones 4.5 Hz
4.5 Hz geophones are passive seismic sensors that detect low-frequency vibrations from the ground or from natural and man-made structures. Their nominal frequency of 4.5 Hz makes them ideal for monitoring natural or induced seismic events, microtremors, or vibrations associated with structural resonance phenomena.
Category
Permanent
Group
Geophones
Type
Seismic Monitoring
Geophones 10 Hz
10 Hz geophones are passive seismic sensors designed to detect high-frequency vibrations from the ground or from natural and man-made structures. Their nominal frequency of 10 Hz makes them suitable for monitoring natural or induced seismic and microseismic events.
Category
Permanent
Group
Geophones
Type
Seismic Monitoring
Micro SHM4 Physical Acoustic System - MISTRAS
Contact microacoustic system consisting of 4 sensors and acquisition unit with signal amplification and related wiring. Also supplied with licensed software for data processing.
Category
Permanent
Group
Acoustic Emission (AE)
Type
Seismic Monitoring