Guralp Systems Limited
MAN-040-0001 Güralp 40T User's Guide
Section Index: 4.1 Installation notes 4.2 Installing in vaults 4.3 Installing in pits 4.4  Other installation methods

Chapter 4. Installing the 40T

4.1 Installation notes

For the best possible results, a seismometer should be installed on a seismic pier in a specially-built vault, where conditions are near perfect. Here, wave-trains arriving at the instrument reflect very well the internal motion of subsurface rock formations. However, this is not always feasible. For example,

In these situations, the seismometer and its emplacement need to be considered as a mechanical system, which will have its own vibrational modes and resonances. These frequencies should be raised as high as possible so that they do not interfere with true ground motion: ideally, beyond the range of the instrument.

This is done by

In temporary installations, environmental factors are also important. The sensor needs to be well protected against:

This can be done by selecting a suitable site, and placing the instrument in a protective enclosure. An open-sided box of 5 cm expanded polystyrene slabs, placed over the instrument and taped down to exclude draughts, makes an excellent thermal shield.

After installation, the instrument case and mounting surface will slowly return to the local temperature, and settle in their positions. This will take around four hours from the time installation is completed.

4.2 Installing in vaults

The 40T is a sensitive instrument designed to measure extremely small movements of the ground. These movements are the sum of all the vibrations arriving at the instrument: as well as distant earthquakes and nearby tremors, the ground responds to surf on nearby beaches, quarry blasts, heavy machinery, traffic, and even people moving around the building. Temperature changes and air currents in the same room as the sensor can also affect its output.

4.2.1  Choosing a location

When studying natural earth movements, any other effects introduce unwanted noise into the system. It is therefore important to choose an appropriate site for the instrument, ideally in an underground vault with the sensor installed on a concrete pier that is in direct contact with the bedrock.

This set-up has a number of advantages:

A high-quality seismic vault can be incorporated into the construction plans of a new building at relatively low cost. However, if you are not in a position to build a dedicated vault, you can still reduce noise to a satisfactory level by

Installation on higher floors is not recommended, especially for horizontal sensors, since any “give” in the floor near the sensor will cause it to tilt slightly and register a signal.

4.2.2  Temperature stability

The 40T can operate over a wide temperature range (–10 °C to +75 °C). However, the sensor mass is sensitive to fluctuations in local temperature. This affects the response of the instrument at long periods. Sunlight and other bright lights can also cause small mechanical stresses that will be detected by the sensor. You can minimise these effects by

4.2.3  Other considerations

4.3 Installing in pits

For outdoor installations, high-quality results can be obtained by constructing a seismic pit.

Depending on the time and resources available, this type of installation can suit all kinds of deployment, from rapid temporary installations to medium-term telemetered stations.

Ideally, the sensor should rest directly on the bedrock for maximum coupling to surface movements. However, if bedrock cannot be reached, good results can be obtained by placing the sensor on a granite pier on a bed of dry sand.

4.4  Other installation methods

The recommended installation methods have been extensively tested in a wide range of situations. However, past practice in seismometer installation has varied widely.

Some installations introduce a layer of ceramic tiles between a rock or concrete plinth and the seismometer (left):

However, noise tests show that this method of installation is significantly inferior to the same concrete plinth with the tiles removed (right). Horizontal sensors show shifting due to moisture trapped between the concrete and tiling, whilst the vertical sensors show pings as the tile settles.

Other installations have been attempted with the instrument encased in plaster of Paris, or some other hard-setting compound (left):

Again, this method produces inferior bonding to the instrument, and moisture becomes trapped between the hard surfaces. We recommend the use of fine dry sand (right) contained in a box if necessary, which can also insulate the instrument against convection currents and temperature changes. Sand has the further advantage of being very easy to install, requiring no preparation.

Finally, many pit installations have a large space around the seismometer, covered with a wooden roof. Large air-filled cavities are susceptible to currents which produce lower-frequency vibrations, and sharp edges and corners can give rise to turbulence. We recommend that a wooden box is placed around the sensor to protect it from these currents. Once in the box, the emplacement may be backfilled with fresh turf to insulate it from vibrations at the surface, or simply roofed as before.

By following these guidelines, you will ensure that your seismic installation is ready to produce the highest quality data.