TESTING OF PILES

Chandrashekhar Damodare Sr.Engineer (Quality Control)

INTRODUCTION
Pile foundations are one of the types of deep foundations. They are used in case of soft/silty/clayey type of soils. As in such case of soils going for normal foundations may not be possible either from economical point of view or may not be possible at all in case you want to construct near seashore etc. These are the foundations which transfer load to greater depths, where there is strong strata / load reaching that point is minimal.

NEED FOR PILE TESTING

Testing of the piles is very much vital as well as important activity during pile foundation. The testing can give better insight of the characteristics of the casted piles . The load transfer mechanism from a pile to the surrounding ground is complicated and could not yet be fully ascertained, although application of pile foundations is in practice over many decades. Pile transfers axial loads either substantially by skin friction along its shaft or substantially by the end bearing. Piles are used where either of the above load transfer mechanism is possible depending upon the subsoil stratification at the particular site

TESTING OF PILES
PILE TESTING

Pile Integrity Test

Dynamic testing

Pile load test

Vertical Load test (Compression)

Pull out Test

Lateral Load test

Maintained Load test

C.R.P.METHOD

Cyclic method

I.S.CODES FOR PILE TESTING

Sr.no. Method of the test Relevant I.S.Code Remark

1 2 3

Pile Load Test I.S.2911(Part 4) Dynamic tests on pile I.S.2911 Pile Integrity test

IN-SITU-TEST Using Modified Hilleys Formula

NDT testing WITH I.S.14893-2001 LOW STRAIN

NECESSARY INFORMATION for Testing of PILE

:

Pile type including material and reinforcement details, group of piles, if any. Method of driving with driving record or installation. Pile depth(s) and details of cross-section(s). Type of test desired. Layout of the pile(s) space available around and position in the group for single pile test.

Continued
Safe load and ultimate load capacity, and the method(s) on which based. Availability and provision of type of piles or anchors or kentledge for reaction Nature of loading/loading plan with a particularly mention of pile(s) whichmay be free standing when scour is expected; Depth of water table and soil strata details with soil test results

PILE LOAD TESTS

Pile load test is the most direct method for determining the safe loads on piles including its structural capacity with respect to soil in which it is installed. It is considered more reliable on account of its being in-situ test than the capacities computed by other methods, such as static formula, dynamic formulae and penetration test data. There are widely varying practices followed for load tests on piles. Particularly, the difficulties regarding the establishment of an acceptable criterion, for determining the ultimate and safe bearing capacity of piles, and predicting the pile group behavior from the test data obtained from individual pile.

TYPE OF LOADING CONDITIONS IN PILE LOAD TEST

A) VERTICAL LOADING (COMPRESSION) B) LATERAL LOADING C) PULL OUT Test

There are two types of tests for each type of loading

Initial Load Test A test pile is tested to determine the load carrying capacity of the pile by loading either to its ultimate load or to twice the estimated safe load. Routine Test It is carried out on a working pile with a view to check whether pile is capable of taking the working load assigned to it

VERTICAL LOAD TEST

In this type of test, compression load is applied to the pile top by means of a hydraulic jack against rolled steel joist or suitable load frame capable of providing reaction and the settlement is recorded by suitably positioned dial gauges.

Vertical load method again divided in to three methods as following:

A) Maintained load Method B) Cyclic Method C) CRP Method

TERMINOLOGY
Kentledge - Dead-weight used for applying a test load on piles. Test Pile - A pile which is meant for initial test. Working Pile - A pile forming part of foundation of a structural system which may be used for routine load test. Safe Load - It is a load on a pile derived by applying a factor of safety on ultimate load capacity of pile as determined by load test.

General requirements and preparation required for Vertical Load methods

Preparation of PILE HEAD - The pile head should be chipped off to natural horizontal plane till sound concrete is met. The projecting reinforcement should be cut off or bent suitably and the top finished smooth and level with plaster of Paris or similar synthetic material where required. A bearing plate with a hole at the centre should be placed on the head of the pile for the jacks to rest.

Application of Load ( Not for CRP Method)

The test should be carried out by applying a series of vertical downward incremental load, each increment being of about 20 percent of safe load on the pile. For testing of raker piles, it is essential that loading is along the axis.

The reaction may be obtained from the following

a) Kentledge placed on a platform supported clear of the test pile. In case of load test below under-pinned structure, the existing structure if having adequate weight and suitable construction may serve as kentledge. The centre of gravity of the kentledge should coincide with the axis of the pile and the load applied by the jack should also be coaxial with this pile. b) Anchor piles with centre-to-centre distance from the test pile not less than3 times the test pile shaft diameter subject to minimum of 2 m. If the anchor piles are permanent working piles, it should be ensured that the residual uplift is within limits. Care should be exercised to ensure that the datum bar supports are not affected by heaving up of the soil. c) Rock anchors with distance from the nearest edge of the piles at rock level being 2 times the test pile shaft diameter or 1.5 m whichever is greater

SETTLEMENT
Settlement shall be recorded with minimum 3 dial gauges for single pile and 4 dial gauges of 0.01 mm sensitivity for groups. The dial gauges shall be placed symmetrically and at equal distances from the pile(s) and normally held by datum bars resting on immovable supports at a distance of 3 D (subject to minimum of 1.5 m) from the edge of the piles, where D is the pile stem diameter of circular piles or diameter of the circumscribing circle in the case of square or non-circular PILES

The safe load on single pile for the initial test should be least of the following:
a) For piles up to and including 600 mm diameter i) Two-thirds of the final load at which the total displacement attains a value of 12 mm unless otherwise required in a given case on the basis of nature and type of structure in which case, the safe load should be corresponding to the stated total displacement permissible. ii) 50 percent of the final load at which the total displacement equal to 10 percent of the pile diameter in case of uniform diameterpiles and 7.5 percent of bulb diameter in case of under-reamed piles.

For piles more than 600 mm diameter

i) Two-third of the final load at which the total displacement attains a value of 2.5 percent of pile diameter . ii) Load corresponding to a total displacement of 1.5 percent of pile diameter. iii) 50 percent of the final load at which the total displacement equal to 10 percent of the pile diameter in case of uniform diameter

The safe load on groups of piles for initial test

For piles up to and including 600 mm diameter
i) Final load at which the total displacement attains a value of 25mm unless otherwise required in a given case on the basis of nature and type of structure. ii) Two-third of the final load at which the total displacement attains a value of 40 mm.

Continued.
For piles more than 600 mm diameter
i) Final load at which the total displacement attains a value of 3 percent of pile diameter unless otherwise required in a given case on the basis of nature and type of structure, and ii) Two-third of the final load at which the total displacement attainsa value of 5 percent of pile diameter.

MAINTAINED LOAD METHOD

This is applicable for both initial and routine test. In this method, each stage of loading shall be maintained till the rate of movement of the pile top is not more than 0.2mm / hr or until two hours have elapsed, whichever is earlier. If the limit of permissible displacement as given in Routin and initial tests are not exceeded, testing of pile is not required to be continued further. The test load shall be maintained for24 hours

Set-up for Maintained Load Test

Maintained Load Test

CRP(Constant Rate of Penetration) TEST

This method which is used for initial test is generally considered to be more suitable for determining ultimate load capacity than the maintained load test but the load/deflection characteristics are quite different from those of the maintained load test and cannot be used to predict settlement of the pile under working load conditions

PROCEDURE OF THE TEST

The load shall be measured by means of pressure of 0.01 mm sensitivity load gauge. The penetration (deflection) should be measured by means of dial gauges held by a datum bar resting on immovable supports at a distance of atleast 3 D (subject to a minimum of 1.5 m) away from the test pile edge where D is defined in intial test. One of the dial gauges will be selected for conducting the test. With continuous application of pressure on the pile top by operating of the jack, a person watches the rate of settlement of the dial gauge against a stop watch held in his hand and directs the pump operator to pump faster or slower or at the same rate as needed to maintain the prescribed rate of settlement say at every 0.25 mm settlement, he gives an indication to take readings. Immediately, other persons record the pressure gauge readings and other dial gauge readings. The pump supplying the jack may be hand or mechanically operated. For force up to 200 tonnes hand pumping is convenient. If a mechanical pump is used, it should, for preference, have an infinite variable delivery, controlled either by a bleed valve or a variable speed drive.

Continued.
The jack should be operated to cause the pile to penetrate at uniform rate which may be controlled by checking the time taken for small increments of penetration and adjusting the pumping rate accordingly. Readings of time, penetration and load should be taken at sufficiently close intervals to give adequate control of the rate of penetration. A rate of penetration of about 0.75 mm per minute is suitable for predominantly friction piles. For predominantly end-bearing piles in sand or gravel, rate of penetration of 1.5 mm per minute may be used. The rate of penetration, if steady, may be half or twice these values without significantly affecting the results. The test should be carried out for the penetration more than 10 percent of the diameter of the pile base

Continued.
As the test proceeds a curve between load and penetration should be drawn to determine when the ultimate load capacity has been reached.

Continued
The curve of load versus penetration in the case of a predominantly friction pile will represent either a peak and the subsequent downward trend, or a peak and then almost a straight line

CYCLIC LOAD TEST METHOD

Alternate loading and unloading shall be carried out at each stage as in Maintained load test and and each unloading stage shall be maintained for at least 15 minutes and the subsequent elastic rebound in the pile should be measured accurately by dial gauges. The test may be continued up to 50 percent over the safe load

Graphical Analysis
Assuming that there is no compression in the pile, plot a graph relating total elastic recovery and load at the pile top. Draw a straight line parallel to the straight portion of curve I to divide the load into two parts and thereby obtained approximate values of point resistance and skin friction. From the approximate value of skin friction, and knowing the loads on top of pile, compute the elastic compression of the pile corresponding to these loads,by the following formula: = (T - F/2) L

AE

where = elastic compression of pile, in cm; T = load on pile top, in kgf; F = frictional resistance, in kgf; L = length of the pile, in cm; A = cross-sectional area of the pile, in cm2, and E = modulus of elasticity of the pile material, in kgf/cm2.

Continued..
Skin Friction and Point Resistance (The value should normally be measured from an exposed portion of pile stem by means of compressometer during the load test itself.) Obtain values of the elastic compression of the subgrade by subtracting the elastic compression of the pile from the total elastic recovery of pile, and plot the graph relating these new values to the corresponding loads on pile top. When elastic compression of the subgrade works out negative, the negative value shall be ignored until the value is positive.

LATERAL TEST
The test may be carried out by introducing a hydraulic jack with gauge between two piles or pile groups under test or the reaction may be suitably obtained otherwise. If it is conducted by jack located between two piles or groups, the full load imposed by the jack shall be taken as the lateral resistance of each pile or group. The loading should be applied in increments of about 20 percent of the estimated safe load.

Continued
The next increment should be applied after the rate of displacement is nearer to 0.1 mm per 30 minutes Displacements shall be read by using at least two dial gauges of 0.01 mm sensitivity spaced at 30 cm and kept horizontally one above the other on the test pile and the displacement interpolated at cut-off level from similar triangles where cut-off level is unapproachable and for approachable cut-off level, however, one dial gauge placed diametrically opposite to the jack shall directly measure the displacement. Where, it is not possible to locate one of the dial gauges in the line of the jack axes, then two dial gauges may be kept at a distance of 30 cm at a suitable height and the displacement interpolated at load point from similar triangles.

Continued
The safe lateral load on the pile, for both free head & fixed head shall be taken as the least of the following: a) Fifty percent of the final load at which the total displacement increases to 12 mm; b) Final load at which the total displacement corresponds to 5 mm; and c) Load corresponding to any other specified displacement as per performance requirements.

Set-up for Lateral Test

PULL-OUT TEST ON THE PILES

Uplift force may preferably be applied by means of hydraulic jack(s) with gauge using a suitable pull out set up. The test pile shall have adequate steel to withstand pulling. In some cases, in order to allow for neck tension in a pull out test, it may be necessary to provide additional reinforcement in the piles to be tested. The pull out load increments and consequent displacement readings shall be read as in the case of vertical load test. The safe load shall be taken as the least of the following: a) For piles up to and including 600 mm diameter i) Two-thirds of the load at which the total displacement is 12 mm or the load corresponding to a specified permissible uplift ii) Half of the load at which the load displacement curve shows a clear break

Continued.
b) For piles more than 600 mm diameter i) Two-thirds of the load at which the total displacement is 2.5 percent of pile diameter or the load corresponding to a specified permissible uplift ii) Half of the load at which the load displacement curve shows a clear break (downward trend) The initial test shall be carried out up to twice the estimated safe load or until the load displacement curve shows a clear break (down-ward trend). Routine test shall be carried out to one-and-a-half times the estimated safe load or 12 mm total displacement whichever is earlier

RECORDING OF DATA AND PRESENTATION

The pile test data essentially concerns three variables, namely, load, displacement and time. These are to be recorded sequentially for the tests under consideration and recorded in a suitable tabular form along with the information about the pile. The data may be suitably presented by curves drawn between the variables and safe loads shown on the graphs. Load displacement curve should be there.

Pile Integrity Test

Pile integrity test is used to assess the continuity of piles. With this test, necking or bulging and uniformity of quality of concrete is checked. Piles that are doubtful for integrity are taken up for Dynamic load testing along with some piles which are ok. Typical defects identified by this test are shown below

DEFECTS IN PILES

Procedure of the Test

Method of Testing : There are Indian Standards for the pile integrity test & the most commonly used worldwide is Pile Integrity Test as per ASTM D 5882 00, Standard Test Method for Low Strain Integrity Testing of Piles. Placement of Transducers The motion sensor should be placed at or near the pile head using a suitable, or temporary, bonding material (that is wax, Vaseline etc.) so that it is assured that it correctly measures the axial pile motion. The motion sensor is placed generally near the center of pile. Additional locations should be considered for piles with diameters greater than 500 mm. The low strain impact should be applied to the pile head within a distance of 300 mm from the motion sensor. Objective: To check the pile for continuity of the shaft of the pile

Continued.
In the sonic test, the top of the pile is hit with a plastic hammer and the reflected waves are recorded by a suitable computerized equipment. From the resulting signal, or reflectogram, one can determine both length and continuity of the pile. Although a powerful tool, the sonic method also has limitations, such as: the test produces no information regarding the pile capacity, and gives only limited information about the concrete quality. The sonic system, can only discover material impedance changes. It cannot tell anything whether these impedance changes are due to poor concrete or due to reduced cross section. Even then this test is a fast & economical tool for determining discontinuities in the pile shaft. If pile records are available, then the results can be fine tuned for greater & more reliable information.

Limitations of the test

The accuracy of the length determination depends on the assumed wave velocity. This factor, which depends on the grade and age of the concrete, varies from pile to pile and may cause an error of the order of 10 percent .

Graph of velocity signal Vs. Pile length

PILE DRIVING ANALYZER (PDA)

Pile Dynamic Test

Pile dynamic test is used to assess the load bearing capacity of the pile. This test uses a hammer of a couple of tons to drop on the pile. Displacements are measured using a high tech instrument. This data is processed to arrive at the pile dynamic load bearing capacity as per IS2911(part-1 section-1). This test is easy to conduct and requires very few site arrangements.

Advantages
As a supplement to or replacement for static tests, dynamic testing takes far less time to perform and thus reduces the costs. Can give better insight in terms of bearing capacity of pile

Methodology
The methodology of test is based on a large weight giving a dynamic impact to the elastic body. It equates the energy of hammer blow to work done in overcoming the resistance of the founding strata to the penetration of the ordinary castin-situ piles as well as grouted micro piles. Allowance is made for losses of energy due to the elastic compression of the pile, subsoil as well as losses caused by the impact of the pile. The given in the code I.S. 2911 part 1 section 1 is used in estimating the ultimate driving resistance in tonnes. From that with a factor of safety as outlined in the code the safe load on pile can be worked out.

modified Hileys formula

Dynamic Pile Test Methodology:

Continued..
The instantaneous displacements including rebounds of the pile are precisely recorded in an automatic data acquisition system. This is done for several cycles & then using formulae as in I.S. 2911, the safe load capacity of the pile is calculated. An optical instrument is used for position sensitive measurement by non-contact continuous measurement with the instrument placed away from the vibrations due to impact load. The system is based on combined light emitting diode transmitters & a position sensitive detector. The transmitter & receiver are installed so that the light beam forms a reference line from the transmitter, receiver to the prism group reflector.

Conti..
The reflected light can be received & recorded 100 times per second. Using the energy transmitted to the pile & accounting for temporary compression of the pile, ground & dolly occurring during the impact loading the ultimate driving resistance is calculated.

MODIFIED HILLEYS FORMULA

R = Whn / (s + c / 2) (As per I.S.2911)
Where R = Ultimate driving resistance in tonnes W = Mass of Ram in tonnes h = Height of free fall in cm considered at 80% for winch operated drop n = Efficiency of the blow representing ratio of energy after impact to striking energy of ram s = Average final set per blow in cm c = Average sum of temporary elastic compression Applying the factor of safety, the safe load for the pile is then calculated

Arrangements for pile dynamic test

THANK YOU.