Low Strain Pile Integrity Testing

We are considered an industry standard for Low Strain Integrity Testing due to our consistent results
and performance. Geo Dynamics owns 16 sets of pile integrity testers available at various locations
across the country. We are equipped with all the current models and our specific expertise includes
testing large scale projects efficiently backed by good equipment / manpower ratio.

Our database of testing more than 20,000 piles annually helps us evaluate critical information like
necking, soil inclusion, cold joints, concrete quality in quick time. The testing conforms to ASTM
D5882. With proper site arrangements, 30 to 50 piles can be tested per day. Testing is conducted
through our offices or alongside major projects across the country. Often our team is fully equipped
to provide site reports and analysis so as to avoid delays in construction activity.

Geo Dynamics has the complete setup and expertise in use of Pulse Echo Method, Force-Velocity
and Transient Dynamic Response Approach, although the Pulse Echo Method is most widely used
and recommended.

PRINCIPLE

The method involves generation of a low stress wave with a help of a specialized hand held hammer.
The waves are then collected in acceleration form by an accelerometer and integrated to velocity for
further analysis. The accelerations generated by the impact are measured by the accelerometer
attached on the pile top and are converted to velocity form for display onto the collector screen.
Reflections from either pile toe/pile discontinuities, cross-sectional changes, soil resistance changes,
the wave speed through the pile etc., are graphically displayed. Since the strains during the test are
of extremely low magnitude, the method is known as Low Strain Test method. Generally, the Pulse
Echo Method is used, although we also have the facility to use other methods.

APPLICATIONS & BENEFITS

1. The test is fast economical and reliable and gives cardiogram of pile health.

2. Helps locate pile defects & its location and ascertain concrete quality.

3. Helps to select piles for static & dynamic testing, since atleast 30 piles can be tested in a day.

4. Applicable for piles of flyovers, bridges, jetties, multistorey buildings or where pile integrity
is questionable.

5. In some cases where testing can be done from top of pile cap, it maybe possible to evaluate
integrity of existing piles used for bridges, flyovers, buildings and other structures. Geo
Dynamics has executed several such projects in India for testing from top of pile cap.

6. With some information about soil and pile, it can be used to ascertain pile length within a
range of + 5% to 10%

7. Owner / client / contractor is assured of reliable pile foundation at minimum cost and thus
avoids extensive arguments & litigations.

LIMITATIONS

1. The test cannot be used for pre-cast concrete piles beyond the first joint. Similarly it cannot
be used for steel H or pipe piles as the equipment is not calibrated for it.
 2. The test cannot be generally used for pre-cast jointed piles beyond the first segment as the
wave gets reflected from the first joint.

3. Testing micro piles is difficult and most of the times not possible due to presence of high
percentage reinforcement that affect the signal.

4. The method does not generally tell about the integrity of the pile beyond the first major
defect and sometimes even a bulb.

Low Strain integrity testing is state of art and requires experience in data collection and analysis. The
practice of awarding the work at low costs to agencies without experience often leads to
questionable data and practices. This eventually leads to more confusion and unintended losses.
Hence evaluation of testing agency is important in ensuring good quality foundation and avoiding
losses at project site. Testing of 100 or more piles in one day is not physically possible many times
and also leads to questionable practices.

TESTING PROCEDURE

This testing requires the attachment of the highly sensitive accelerometer to the pile top with
viscous material. Accelerometer is connected to PIT Collector - computer with special purpose signal
conditioning and A/D converter. After hammer impact downward compressive wave is generated
traveling with wave speed "c". When this initial wave encounters a cross section change or concrete
quality change at depth x, it generates an upward traveling wave which is observed at the pile top at
a time equal to twice the distance of the cross section change from the top divided by the wave
speed c (2x/c). The rest of the initial wave travels down to the pile toe and reflects. It is observed at
the pile toe at time twice the pile length divided by wave speed (2L/C, L= pile length). Reductions in
pile cross and concrete quality section generate tension upward traveling waves, while soil
resistance and bigger pile cross section generates compression upward traveling waves. From the
known pile length and material the expected arrival time of pile toe reflect could be calculated. If the
positive reflection is observed prior to the expected toe reflect time, the approximate defect
location can be estimated from the assumed wave speed. The size of the defect can be estimated
from the magnitude of the early reflection. Pile top velocity (integration of measured acceleration)
for each hammer impact is recorded. It is possible to perform fast Fourier analyze on time domain
record to obtain frequency domain response, on which it is also possible to interpret pile cross
section changes and pile concrete quality. With PIT measurements it is possible to perform pile
integrity control on bored and nearly all cast in place piles and driven concrete piles. Piles with
greatly varying cross-sectional areas may make it difficult to distinguish between reflections from
significant discontinuities and those caused by the construction method. However, if large numbers
of piles are tested, it is generally easy to spot the piles heaving unusual responses. Suspected piles
can be subjected to further tests as wave analysis, borings etc.

Limitations: L/D ratio <=30 (L=pile length, D = pile diameter) Cracks it is impossible to detect pile
under the crack

Pile preparation before test: All bad concrete from pile head should be removed, pile head should
be clean and without cracks for successive test.
MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSIS RESULTS

Method and testing procedure is standardized with ASTM D-5882-00 Standard test Method

for Low-Strain Integrity Testing of Piles.

Pile Integrity results are presented on table and graph. Table data for each pile:

Pile Name

Date Collected
 Pile Lengthas reported on site

Wave Speeddefined from reported pile length

Magnificationexponential graph magnification

Commentsfrom table of possible pile states

For each tested pile v (t) graph is presented. Below is basic v (t) graph explanation:
Wikipedia

Pile integrity test

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pile is a slender foundation element cast in the ground or driven into it. Since pile construction
as well as the final product are mostly invisible, engineers have often questioned their integrity,
i.e. their compliance with project drawings and specifications. In fact, experience [1] has shown
that in piles of all kinds flaws may occur. The purpose of integrity testing is to discover such flaws
before they can cause any damage.
Historically, pile integrity was investigated by direct methods.[2] These included external methods
such as excavation around the pile and internal or intrusive methods, such as core-drilling . While
excavation may be effective in exposing flaws in the outer part of the pile, it is usually limited to a
depth of a few meters. Core drilling, on the other hand, can be carried out to a large depth
provides full information, but only for a very small fraction of the pile volume.
Indirect methods, or imaging, were first developed in the early 1970s. These include three
distinct methods:

Nuclear radiation, or gamma-gamma method[3]

Short wave (ultrasonic) acoustic method[4]
Long wave (sonic) acoustic method[5]
A pile integrity test (also known as low strain dynamic test, sonic echo test, and low strain
integrity test) is one of the methods for assessing the condition of piles or shafts. It is cost
effective and not very time consuming.
Pile integrity testing using low strain tests such as the TDR (Transient Dynamic Response)
method, is a rapid way of assessing the continuity and integrity of concrete piled foundations. It
has been used in the UK since the early 1970s, and Testconsult was the first company in the UK
to obtain UKAS accreditation for this test. We use the latest portable PIT system, the TDR2,
which operates in the time and frequency domain and is able to carry out advanced interpretation
of data. The test measures:
Pile length, or depth to anomalies Pile head stiffness Pile shaft mobility which is dependent on
pile section and concrete properties The software also produces computer simulations and
impedance profiles of the test result, to analyse in detail any intermediate pile shaft responses.
The TDR test requires minimal of preparation and is able to find defects corresponding to cracks,
reductions in section and zones of poor quality concrete
The test is based on wave propagation theory. The name "low strain dynamic test" stems from
the fact that when a light impact is applied to a pile it produces a low strain. The impact produces
a compression wave that travels down the pile at a constant wave speed (similarly to what
happens in high strain dynamic testing). Changes in cross sectional area - such as a reduction in
diameter - or material - such as a void in concrete - produce wave reflections.
This procedure is performed with a hand held hammer to generate an impact,
an accelerometer or geophone placed on top of the pile to be tested to measure the response to
the hammer impact, and a data acquisition and interpretation electronic instrument.
The test works well in concrete or timber foundations that are not excessively slender. Usually
the method is applied to recently constructed piles that are not yet connected to a structure.
However, this method is also used to test the integrity and to determine the length of piles
embedded in structures. Widely used in Australia now on existing structures.
This method is covered under ASTM D5882-00 - Standard Test Method for Low Strain Integrity
Testing of Piles.