In particular, Geokon, Inc., through innovation and experience, has developed a line of vibrating wire sensors unsurpassed anywhere in the world. These highly reliable devices have contributed in no small way to the growing worldwide acceptance of vibrating wire as the most suitable technology for geotechnical applications.

Vibrating Wire Technology

The resonant frequency of vibration of a tensioned steel wire is dependent on the strain or tension in the wire. This fundamental dependency is utilized in a variety of configurations for the measurement of strain, load, force, pressure, temperature, and tilt.

Vibrating wire sensors are well known for their long-term stability. The advantage of vibrating wire sensors over more conventional types lies mainly in the sensor output, which is a frequency rather than a voltage.

Frequencies can be transmitted over long (>2000 m) cables without appreciable degradation of the signal caused by variations in cable resistance, which can arise from water penetration, temperature fluctuations, contact resistance or leakage to ground. This factor, coupled with the elegance and ruggedness of GEOKON, INC. designs results in sensors which exhibit excellent long-term stability and which are ideally suited for long-term measurements in adverse environments.

‘Caveat Emptor’

Imitation is the best form of flattery, so we at GEOKON should feel extremely flattered by the number and variety of companies that have chosen to copy the elegant designs of our products. It is quite amazing the extent to which our imitators have gone in order to match the appearance of their products to GEOKON’s.

So while we marvel at, and applaud the efforts of, our competitors in helping us spread the good word about the use of sensors based on vibrating wire technology, we find it necessary to voice a ‘Caveat Emptor’ that appearances aren’t everything and that beauty may be only skin deep.

Over 30 years of experience at GEOKON has inevitably honed our products to a high degree of reliability, a reliability which is dependent on subtle improvements and refinements that are not readily visible to the naked eye.

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