ASTM D7764-20

Standard Practice for Pre-Installation Acceptance Testing of Vibrating Wire Piezometers

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Vibrating wire piezometers are typically not recoverable after installation. Replacement, which involves drilling a new borehole, is expensive and sometimes impossible. Thus it is important to be certain that the sensor is operational before it is installed.  
4.2 Lacking sophisticated testing facilities, field testers must use equipment that is at hand. But in so doing, field testers should not expect to achieve the same accuracy and precision that manufacturers state on the sensor calibration record. Instead, field testers should look for obvious non-conformances, as explained in the procedures.  
4.3 This standard practice is not meant to restrict the use of other appropriate acceptance tests and procedures.
Note 1: The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes two acceptance tests for a vibrating wire piezometer: a zero test and a down-hole test. The two tests can help a user verify that the piezometer is operating properly before it is installed.  
1.2 This practice offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.  
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2020
• ICS: 93.020 - Earthworks. Excavations. Foundation construction. Underground works
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.23 - Field Instrumentation

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D7764 − 20
Standard Practice for
Pre-Installation Acceptance Testing of Vibrating Wire
1
Piezometers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7764; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This practice describes two acceptance tests for a 2.1 ASTM Standards:
vibratingwirepiezometer:azerotestandadown-holetest.The D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
two tests can help a user verify that the piezometer is operating Fluids
properly before it is installed. D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
1.2 This practice offers an organized collection of informa-
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
tion or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
3. Terminology
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
3.1 Definitions:
judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in
3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms in this
all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to
standard, refer to Terminology D653.
represent or replace the standard of care by which the
adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
should this document be applied without consideration of a
3.2.1 vibratingwirepiezometer,n—atypeofpressuresensor
project’s many unique aspects. The word “standard” in the
that is used to monitor pore-water pressure.
title of this document means only that the document has been
3.2.1.1 Discussion—“Vibrating wire” refers to the mecha-
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
nismbywhichpressureonthesensor’sdiaphragmisconverted
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
to an electrical signal that is transmitted to a readout device.A
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
tensioned wire connected to the diaphragm is plucked by an
standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall
electromagnetic pulse, and the resulting natural frequency is
not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
monitored by the readout. Any change in pressure on the
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the diaphragm changes the tension of the wire and the resulting
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the frequency. A typical vibrating wire piezometer reports gauge
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- pressure, rather than absolute pressure. In this standard, the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- words“vibratingwirepiezometer,”“piezometer,”and“sensor”
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. will be used interchangeably.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
4. Significance and Use
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4.1 Vibrating wire piezometers are typically not recoverable
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
after installation. Replacement, which involves drilling a new
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
borehole, is expensive and sometimes impossible. Thus it is
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
important to be certain that the sensor is operational before it
is installed.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.23 on Field Instrumen-
2
tation. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2020. Published August 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2012. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D7764–12. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D7764-20. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D7764 − 20
4.2 Lackingsophisticatedtestingfacilities,fieldtestersmust well, the environment may be electrically noisy.Try moving to
use equipme
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D7764 − 12 D7764 − 20
Standard Practice for
Pre-Installation Acceptance Testing of Vibrating Wire
1
Piezometers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7764; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This practice describes two acceptance tests for a vibrating wire piezometer: a zero test and a down-hole test. The two tests
can help a user verify that the piezometer is operating properly before it is installed.
1.2 This practice offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course
of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment.
Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace
the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied
without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “standard” in the title of this document means only that the
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in
Engineering Design and Construction
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms in this standard, refer to Terminology D653.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.23 on Field Instrumentation.
Current edition approved July 1, 2012Aug. 1, 2020. Published October 2012August 2020. Originally approved in 2012. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as
D7764–12. DOI: 10.1520/D7764-12. 10.1520/D7764-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D7764 − 20
3.2 Definitions:Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 For general definitions, see Terminology D653.
3.1.2 absolute pressure, n—a pressure value that includes the effect of atmospheric pressure.
3.1.3 gauge pressure, n—a pressure value that excludes the effect of atmospheric pressure.
3.2.1 vibrating wire piezometer, n—a type of pressure sensor that is used to monitor pore-water pressure. Vibrating wire refers to
the mechanism by which pressure on the sensor’s diaphragm is converted to an electrical signal that is transmitted to a readout
device. A typical vibrating wire piezometer reports absolute pressure, rather than gauge pressure. In this standard, the words
“vibrating wire piezometer,” “piezometer,” and “sensor” will be used interchangably.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—
“Vibrating wire” refers to the mechanism by which pressure on the sensor’s diaphragm is converted to an electrical signal that is
transmitted to a readout device. A tensioned wire connected to the diaphragm is
...