Microcomputer-Based Data Acquisition Systems for Triaxial Testing of Soft Yielding Rocks

The structure and design of a generic, device-independent, set of software data acquisition and control routines for long-term rock mechanics monitoring are described. The routines are designed for an Intel 8086/8088-microprocessor-based microcomputer running under the MS-DOS R (Microsoft Disk Operating System). It is assumed that the rock will undergo long-term, slow deformation rather than rapid elastic rupture, and the routines are designed primarily for low strain rate and creep/consolidation testing. The main features of the package include instrumental drift compensation, inputs from multiple interfaces, on-line configuration changes, complex control functions based on multiple sensor values, automatic elimination of erratic sensors, background acquisition and control, and on-line real-time graphics.