Different types of soil stress measuring cells have been successfully used in model tests under monotonic loading after following a strict calibration exercise to simulate field conditions. This paper explores the potential of one particular type of strain-gauged cell (type TML–PDA–200kPa) to determine the magnitudes of stresses generated at soil-structure interfaces and also within the soil medium for repeating load tests on models at 1 g. Difficulties associated with the use and calibration of these cells, including hysteresis, are discussed. In the present investigation, repeating load tests performed on dry sand prepared at different density states indicated that the cell response was strongly dependent on sand density, load amplitude, loading frequency and number of load cycles.