Zettingsmeter

Zettingsmeter, or settlement meter, is a geotechnical instrument used to measure vertical displacement of ground or structures over time. It provides data essential for evaluating settlement caused by loading, consolidation, drainage changes, or other geotechnical processes. A zettingsmeter typically consists of a fixed reference point and a displacement sensor that records the vertical movement of a target point relative to the reference. Common sensing methods include mechanical dial gauges, linear displacement sensors (such as LVDTs), vibrating-wire strain gauges, and electronic encoders. Some systems deliver readings automatically to a data logger or monitoring network.

Installation and operation: Meters are installed at critical locations on foundations, piles, embankments, or within boreholes. A stable benchmark is required to provide a constant reference. Readings can be taken manually at intervals or collected continuously via telemetry. Deploying several meters helps map settlement patterns and identify differential movement.

Applications: Used in civil and geotechnical projects to monitor foundation settlement during construction, post-construction settlement, or under changing loads. They also support monitoring of embankments, dams, tunnels, mining subsidence, and landslide-prone slopes.

Data use and limitations: Measured settlements are analyzed to determine rates and total displacement, trigger alarms, and guide remediation or design updates. Limitations include sensitivity to temperature, drift, the need for stable references, and the fact that vertical meters do not capture horizontal or tilt movements.