Most often, we do not look at the piles left after being thrown. Like another structural component, they also are susceptible to structural issues and, sometimes, not noticing the damage is too late when settlement happens. The failures and damage could be due to the design of the pile or with construction or artistry. To avoid these unforeseeable circumstances, the requirement is to have piles examined at the beginning of construction.
It is always cost-effective to have a solution when we spot any damage to the pile in the beginning instead of finding it during the last stage of construction. Many load testing equipment for pile tests are available based on the purpose of the test, but the most popular pile tests are the Dynamic Load Test, Static Load Test, and the Pile Integrity Test.
Dynamic Load Test
The strength of a pile has to meet the geotechnical and structural limits for a foundation that is safe to function as it should. Pile load tests are a useful technique for determining the structure’s ultimate geotechnical strength celebrities bio. Dynamic load testing using the help of using Pile Dynamic Analyzer (PDA) is a quick and accurate method to assess the capacity to bear the pile load.
This test can aid in selecting the correct type of pile that can withstand the stress on the pile while driving. It will also alert you when the pile drives to the required length, thus avoiding excessively long piles. The test also gives information on the structure’s integrity, driving stresses, and hammer performance. The static test may be conducted if the dynamic load test is left out of the mix.
Static Load Test
The static load test can be used to determine a pile’s bearing capability, just like with dynamic load tests. The load test will be applied to the ledge (concrete blocks) during the performance of this static load test, and the load will be recorded by certified and calibrated pressure gauges installed on the pile. With the aid of dial gauges that register on a reference beam, the settlement of the pile is tracked.
The outcomes can be confirmed using an optical microscope. By incrementally loading a pile to the appropriate standard and noting the time, load, and settling, a pile is examined. The load test interpretation will be provided to determine the capacity of the pile. The criteria to define the load on the piles will include, but are not limited to, the following:
The amount of load that settles continues to rise without an additional increase in load.
Beyond that point, you will see an improvement in settlement net proportional to the load increase. The minimum load to be applied during the test should be at least 1.5 times the workload to measure the load. It is, therefore, essential to consider the burden of the pile.
Pile Integrity Test
An integrity test can be an important quality control element in pre-cast concrete or cast-in-place. Structural flaws that result from the construction of the pile, such as cracks, variations in cross-sections, etc., can be identified through this technique. It is a Non-distracted To examine the consistency and continuity of the pile material, as well as its length and cross-sectional area, Non-distracted Testing (NDT) is used.
A common strain approach and an ultrasonic method that provides acceleration and speed are used in precast and cast-in-place concrete integrity tests. The main shockwave that runs down the piling will be refracted from the toe through the density variation in the concrete and substrate. But, any discontinuities or imperfections that occur along the length of the pile will be reflected in the signal returned.
Hammers are used to strike the head of the pile and must be used in a vertical direction with the pile. Multiple impacts are made to the uppermost part of the pile, and the echoes are recorded for every single impact using a transducer for acceleration or motion. This device will perform the signal conditioning and integrate acceleration to determine the velocity.
