Eurocode 7 dynamic pile testing: philosophy and application

Orsetti, V. & Rosa, B.

Rincent BTP Enginering Instrumentation, France

Keywords: Eurocode 7, dynamic load test, static load test, pile design ABSTRACT: Since the advent of data processing and electronics, Dynamic load test (DLT) based on stress wave analysis did not cease developing and proving its reliability implied by a neat realization. The European deep foundation designing Standard Eurocode 7 (EC7) will be released this year in France. The Standard relative to the DLT, still experimental, will also be released. This article points out the broad outlines of the relationship between predesigning and settlement behavior of the pile under static and dynamic load that are both basis of high energy pile testing. This approach is integrated in the EC7 designing philosophy. Static Load Test (SLT) remains the reference method. Interrogations still remain regarding the DLT method that have to be discussed in the construction professionals community. In particular this article mentions the effective mobilization of the foundation pile/soil resistance due to the shock, the dynamic Damping and Quake values adjustment or the signal interpretation accuracy that allow obtainment of the mobilized resistance distribution and the load-displacement curve. The experience feedback of a thermo plant building site, founded on cast in situ piles that have been designed and controlled according to high energy pile tests, show the opportunities given by the DLT method compared to the SLT method. 1 INTRODUCTION Since the Seventies, several French research programs have occasioned pile dynamic and static large-scale experimentations. Of these datas, piles and grounds categories were drawn, associated with their resistance and settlement behavior. Designing through pile testing were thus introduced in 1993 into the Standards in the same way as preliminary soil surveys. The DLT french experimental Standard inspired the European draft Standard of the test referenced EN 22477-4. Nevertheless, current projects in France continue using mostly the soil survey approach for pile designing. The goal and philosophy of high energy pile testing is to optimize pile design as well as to guarantee pile realization compliance with design. According to the EC7, once DLT test is calibrated on a SLT, it can be applied to the whole of the building site for a uniform geotechnical context. Consequently, the DLT much less expensive and rapid than the SLT - can be applied to more modest projects. Furthermore, Eurocode 7 consists in a semi-probabilistc pile design approach called Load and Resistance Factor Design Bridge (LRFD) based on the use of multiple safety coefficients. Two of the four calculation methods concern pile testing (SLT and DLT). The preliminary soil survey design relies on three safety coefficients which are added to each other. They correspond to the sum of uncertainties due to soil survey density, correlation of the soil survey with the behavior of a real pile, and lastly the soil type. For high energy pile testing, the only safety coefficient playing a part is related to the number of tests carried out. In spite of its advantages, the DLT remains rarely used. One of the reason is the use of a falling ram, and the other is the DLT technicality that requires greater experience and control. Indeed insufficient vigilance on DLT realization and interpretation can yield false results. The engineers experience in charge of these tests and the transparency of the results thus represent a major stake in the development of this method.

Table 1. High energy pile tests objectives.

Tests expected results Test parameters Pile state permanent expected settlement millimeter (mm) applied concrete stress Pascal (Pa) settlement under service load millimeter (mm) x Design parameters toe/shaft resistance distribution Newton (N)

Test load

Integrity

creep load

rupture load

Newton (N) 1,5 x ultimate load capacity 1,5 x ultimate load capacity 1,5 x load capacity aka 1-2% load capacity falling ram 1,5 x Service load 1,5 x Service load aka 1-2% Service load falling mass

Newton (N)

Newton (N)

simple SLT

5-10% x B

PRELIMINARY instrumented SLT TESTS DLT (calibrated with SLT) simple SLT CONTROL TESTS DLT (calibrated with SLT)

5-10% x B

1-3 mm

3-4 mm

1 mm

2 FROM SOIL PRELIMINARY TEST TO PILE TESTS The classical preliminary soil surveys in France -pressuremeter and penetrometer- aim to determine characteristics of soils by leading them to the rupture (limit pressure and possibly modulus of deformation). Analytical formulas of computations based on correlations then make it possible to estimate a bearing capacity of the ground, with the important safety factors required in this empirical method. Preliminary soil surveys are carried out at the outlines and draft stages. The high energy pile testing also consists in loading soils up to the rupture. It brings in thus all the analysis of the pile/soil interaction that is not included in the soil surveys. The exact knowledge of the loading conditions applied during the test is fundamental. Indeed, the test simulates the loading conditions during the building service. Thus, the designer must study the pile behavior from the points of view of: The resistance mobilisation of the pile/soil interface (shaft and toe) under the load of creep and possibly the rupture, which make it possible to determine the bearing capacity along the pile. The associated settlements with the loading conditions which must fullfill the requirements of the superstructure (acceptable differential movements).

The pile material resistance that gives the internal resistance of the foundations. The DLT and SLT are described here within the framework of a project founded on cast in situ piles that are injected on toe (Starforeuse trademark). These cast in situ piles have the particularity of having to be tested after a relatively long time for concrete curing. Sufficient resistance is generally reached after 10 to 14 days. The conditions of casting are then analysable by simple review of drilling recordings. Moreover, unlike driven piles, cast in situ piles bearing capacity is non time-dependent. It makes comparison and correlations more reliable. According to the project phase, test will be conducted on test pile or service pile. The test loads are different. Table 1 presents the load and the main results expected from the different pile testing configurations. For the preliminary tests, the SLT is generally led to approximately 1.5 times the maximum pile load ultimate capacity in order to reach a settlement equal to 5-10 % of pile diameter. The weight of falling ram in the DLT is approximately 1 to 2 % of the static loading objective that make it possible to reach an equivalent energy inducing a residual settlement from 1 to 3 mm. The control tests must simulate an exceeding loading from 30 to 50% of the working load both for DLT and SLT. .

Table 2. Main hypothesis and results

a) SLT with 2x400 kN jacks Figure 1. Tests installation photos

b) DLT with falling ram weight 50 kN and crane with free release

3 PILE TESTS SCHEDULE AND RESULTS The construction of a thermo plant in the East of France required the casting of approximately 1000 piles with a calcareous substratum approximately 18 meters deep. Two months before the beginning of the building site, 6 test piles of different anchoring and diameter were tested through SLT and DLT. Figure 1 shows the photos of the installation difference between SLT and DLT.

The results synthesis table (Table 2) gathers the limiting loads values from all the design phases. It includes values related to the pile constitutive materials (concrete compressive stress), to the soil surveys (analytical designing according to the French Standard and the Starforeuse specifications) and to SLT and DLT interpretations (mobilized resistance of the pile). The pile tests allow to assess permanent settlement due to maximum and working loads. Maximum settlements and concrete stress measured show that the tests achieve the expected load without damaging the piles.

The values retained by the project superintendent for the preliminary tests are presented in Table 3.
Table 3. Tests characteristics.
Service load capacity (=12MPa) MN 1.7 3.6 4.9 SLT max load MN 2.5 7.2 7.2 DLT falling mass Ton 2.3 5 5

Diameter mm 420 620 720

wave must be measured without loss of information due to a badly fixed sensor or a non homogeneous pile. Coherence of the shocks sequence. The sequence must alternate shocks energy by taking into account the measured concrete stress and the permanent measured settlements values. In signal analysis phase, the radiation damping and quake values assessment requires a good knowledge of the geomorphology and geotechnical characteristics of every soil layers. Charrue (2004) gathered the authors attempt to correlate these values. Only orders of magnitude for different soil types can be assessed without any exact correlation. Thus, the values used must be compared to literatures and to all the tests on the area. The load-displacement curves obtained can be analysed separately and superposed for the same pile to assess the creep (Qc) and ultimate (Qu) load values. Figure 3 compares the load-settlement curves obtained from SLT, DLT and the Franck & Zhao (1982) load settlement modelization. This last method is calibrated on soil layers and drilling recordings. It yields median results between the two test types. This way, we may detect erroneous results and approximately predict the proceeding of SLT.
Pile T02 - diameter 720 mm
Load (kN)
0 0 5 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 SLT DLT Franck & Zhao 8000 9000

Then, throughout piles casting, the control tests on definitive service piles consisted of: Impedance tests (low energy testing) on every pile for integrity check 12 DLT for pile behavior testing. A dynamic load equivalent to 1,5 times working load should not generate constitutive materials unrecoverable deformations nor compressive stresses higher than those envisaged during design phase. During preliminary tests, creep was reached on piles T03 and T05 (Table 2). The results agree under SLT and DLT. The further analysis consists in comparing the load-settlement values. They are obtained either directly by reading of SLT gauges, or by DLT signals analysis and model calibration. The settlement ratio between the two methods under service load ranges from 0.8 to 1.0. In this particular case, DLT slightly underestimate settlements. These analyses allow then to design piles thanks to EC7. Pile service resistance is obtained by dividing ultimate loads by the security factor. Both high energy pile testing methods yield comparable pile ultimate loads. The control tests made it possible to note the pile integrity and to confirm the expected settlements under the working load,which are always below half a centimeter. 4 HIGH STRAIN DLT METHOD CRITIC AND COMPARISON WITH SLT The use of the DLT method requires a particular vigilance by an experienced team throughout the field test realization. Three aspects must hold the attention: Quality of the shocks. The falling ram must transmit an energy to be correctly quantifiable. The shock must generate a compression/tension wave deprived of parasite. Analysis of the wave. The signal of the downward wave then its reflection along the pile in upward

Settlement (mm)

10 15 20 25

Qc
30 35 40

Figure 3. Load-settlement curves according to different methods pile T02.

On Figure 3, the maximum relative error of 15% can be assessed. It is about an error which is found in the literature, for example in Likins and Rausche (2004). Lastly, a satisfactory DLT method adjustment may allow to assess the resistance distribution along the pile as shown on Figure 4. The shaft friction (qsi) can be compared with the Standards analytic values. Preliminary survey geotechnical soil layers subdivision (quoted 1 to 3c on Figure 4) can then be verified and precise.

qsi (kPa) Mob. Friction [KPa]

0 0 2 4 6 100 200 300 400 500

service load equal to 12 MPa which is twice higher than the designing French Standards. 6 CONCLUSIONS

1 50-120kPa 2 100-130kPa 3a 70kPa

8 10 12 14 Toe resistance = 2 [MPa] 16 18 Depth [m]

3b 150-250kPa

3c 300kPa

Figure 4. DLT resistance distribution along the pile T02.

Pile testing methods are now fully integrated in the pile designing thanks to the EC7 coherent approach. Among the high energy tests DLT will become a routine test in France in spite or the still needed calibration on SLT. The economic and practical job site benefits are high. In spite of its technicality, the DLT has a good and easily verifiable reliability by controling the test schedule and reviewing the results. This method should be realized by trusted test engineers. Moreover, superintendents and control houses should be specifically taught to be able to control the results. However, engineers should keep in mind that the DLT method is still an active field of research in order to keep calling their practice into question. Cast in situ piles should be more tested and studied. Indeed, they allow to make a reliable analysis and correlation of pile tests method because of the non time-dependent pile resistance and the easy drilling recordings analysis. REFERENCES
ASTM D945,Standard Test Method for High Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles. prEN 22477-4:2005 Dynamic axially loaded compression test. EN 1997-1 Section 7 general rules. Fascicule 62-titre V Rgles Techniques de Conception et de Calcul des Fondations des Ouvrages de Civil (in French : technical conception rules of civil engineering structure) . Ailleret, X and Allagnat, D. (2006). Industrial Ring Road Project Load tests in Bangkok ground, Travaux N386 (in French). Beim, G. and Likins, G. (2008). Worldwide dynamic foundation testing codes and standards, Proceedings of the 8th International on the Application of Stresswave theory to piles, Lisbon. Charrue, N. (2004). Loading rate effect on pile load-displacement behaviour derived from back-analysis of two load-testing procedure, PhD-thesis Catholique University of Louvain. Belgien. Frank, R. And Zhao, S.R. (1982). "Estimation par les paramtres pressiomtriques de l'enfoncement sous charge axiale de pieux fors dans des sols fins (in French: Assessment of the settlement under axial load of bored piles in fine-grained soils by means of pressuremeter parameters)." Bull. Liaison Labo. P. et Ch.,n119, May-June, Rf. 2712, 17-24 (in French). Frank, R. (2005) Evaluation of Eurocode 7 two pile foundation design examples Proceedings

5 SYNTHESIS - IMPLICATIONS FOR EUROCODE 7 COMPLIANCE The geotechnical test routine in conformity with the EC7 includes four phases making it possible to refine the design and then to supervize the execution. It is composed of : Geological and geotechnical survey by preliminary soil tests Design and realization of preliminary SLT and DLT campaign Analysis and exploitation of the results for design optimization and checking of the DLT / SLT correlation. Definitive service piles DLT and impedance controls. Within this framework, the geotechnician intervenes in all phases of foundations realization and engages his responsibility towards the all infrastructure. Pile tests following the soil survey represent the best insurance of an optimized design and a realization in conformity. However the geotechnician and the project superintendent must have a good knowledge of testing and design methods to ensure the quality. For the Thermo Plant, the preliminary pile load tests made it possible to validate piles with a working

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