Knowledge Base

Soil Instruments' various Vibrating Wire readouts have different sweep range selections. The Vibrating Wire sweep range selection is determined by the frequency range of the instrument you are reading.

This information is normally supplied in the instrument user manual or data sheet e.g. if the instrument has a specified frequency range of 1700 to 3000 Hz then select the smallest range that encompasses the instruments specified range.

This article outlines the sweep ranges available on each logger and readout along with the sweep ranges for each instrument.

Handheld Readout

Sweep Range ID

Sweep Range Values

1

0450 - 1250 Hz

2

0800 - 2000 Hz

3

1400 - 3500 Hz

4

2400 - 6000 Hz

Sweep Range ID

Sweep Range Values

1

0202 - 1562 F²/1000

2

0640 - 4000 F²/1000

3

1960 - 12250 F²/1000

4

5760 - 36000 F²/1000

Table 1. VW Handheld Readout sweep ranges

4 channel logger/mini logger

Sweep Range ID

Sweep Range Values

A

0450 - 1125 Hz

B

0800 - 2000 Hz

C

1400 - 3500 Hz

D

2300 - 6000 Hz

Sweep Range ID

Sweep Range Values

A

0202 - 1562 F²/1000

B

0640 - 4000 F²/1000

C

1960 - 12250 F²/1000

D

5290 - 36000 F²/1000

Table 2. 4 channel logger or Mini logger sweep ranges

Data Recorder

Sweep Range ID

Sweep Range Values

A

0450 - 5000 Hz

B

1200 - 3500 Hz

C

0400 - 1200 Hz

D

1800 - 3500 Hz

E

2500 - 6000 Hz

F

2500 - 4000 Hz

Sweep Range ID

Sweep Range Values

A

0202 - 25000 F²/1000

B

1440 - 12250 F²/1000

C

0160 - 1440 F²/1000

D

3240 - 12250 F²/1000

E

6250 - 36000 F²/1000

F

6250 - 16000 F²/1000

Table 3. Data recorder sweep ranges

Depending on the type of instruments you are trying to read, you will need to select a different sweep range. Table 4 outlines which sweep range will be needed for each individual Vibrating Wire Instrument

Instrument

Signal Range

Handheld

4 Channel/Mini logger

Data Recorder

VW Piezometer W4

1700-3400Hz

3

C

D

VW Piezometer W9

1700-3400Hz

3

C

D

VW Pressure Cell P6 & P10

1700-3400Hz

3

C

D

VW Joint and Crackmeters J1,2,3,4

1500-3400Hz

3

C

B

VW Rod Extensometers E10

1500-3400Hz

3

C

B

VW Soil Extensometers E7

1500-3400Hz

3

C

B

VW Load Cells L2

2000-3000Hz

3

C

D

VW Push In Pressure Cells P9

1700-3400Hz

3

C

D

VW Strain Gauges ST2,3,4

400-1200Hz

1

A

C

VW Spot Weldable Strain Gauge ST1

1000-3000Hz

3

C

B

VW Rebar Strain Gauge ST5,6

1400-2500Hz

3

C

B

VW Settlement Cells S8

1700-3400Hz

3

C

D

VW Weir Sensor W10

2000-3500Hz

3

C

D

VW Temperature Sensor T3

2000-3500Hz

3

C

D

Table 4. VW instruments sweep ranges