A miniature tensiometer was developed to measure suction smaller than 500kPa during centrifuge modeling. The tensiometer was first saturated by an initial vacuum and subsequently by cycles of prepressurisation and cavitation. During the pre-pressurisation, a maximum pressure of 700 kPa was used to avoid damaging the low-pressure range tensiometer. Long-term suction measurement for a compacted unsaturated silt was carried out in the laboratory. It look about four hours for the tensiometer to reach the target suction (about 110 kPa) and the suction measurements could be maintained for at least 24 hours. Six tensiometers were installed at different depths of an unsaturated silt specimen to monitor the suction profile during centrifuge modelling. The results showed that responses of the tensiometers are consistent before civitation occurs. However, at elevated g condition the tensiometer cavitates at a shorter duration and a lower maximum sustainable suction than those observed in the laboratory