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Thermocouple

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Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

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Definition

Thermocouple – consist of two dissimilar conductors joined at one end to form a hot junction which produces a voltage. As the junction is heated or cooled the voltage changes and is converted to return as temperature. The Thermocouple Temperature Sensor is used in engineering geology for measuring temperature in soil and rock. Simply put, thermocouple is a “thermometer” capable of reading the temperature on the rock face or at different depths of the rock mass.

Overview

A large number of slope failures, where no significant trigger has been proposed and the rock failure mechanism remains unclear, have been recognized as hazards triggered by meteorological factors. Temperature oscillations produce cyclic thermal strains in rock masses which result in deterioration processes associated with cracking and jointing, in opening/closing of joints/fractures, and in jointed rock masses which in turn may initiate thermally driven displacements from slow creep (block ratcheting in...

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References

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Correspondence to Jan Vlcko .

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Vlcko, J. (2018). Thermocouple. In: Bobrowsky, P.T., Marker, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73568-9_283

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