What is a pile load test and a standard penetration test?

Also referred to as SPT or standard penetration testing, standard penetration testing is meant to offer geotechnical engineering properties to achieve different foundation design objectives.

It is possible to execute the software testing in the borehole. It is possible to use the results for the determination of the bearing capacity, relative density, and granular soil settlement. In addition to this, you can use the results for correlating the cohesive soil’s strength.

On the other hand, pile load testing brings an improvement in the pile-soil system adequacy for the specific proposed pile design load.

It plays an integral role in creating the criteria, which is used for the pile foundation design and installation. The first category tests are regarded as the routine, which are executed for the proposed working load. After this, they get executed at the beginning of the job. The software tests include different elaborate programs, whereas the piles get tested for failure.

What is pile load testing?

The pile load testing contributes to being the crucial parameter to accomplish different piling works.

They are factored in and planned into the specific project schedule properly during the earlier phase to validate and verify the pile design and lengths, design safety factors, and establish the specific pile installation criteria.

It helps in controlling different piling works properly. The ultimate objective of pile load testing is the determination of settlement under the specific working load. It plays an integral role in determining the specific bearing capabilities.

Types of pile load testing

There are primarily two different kinds of pile load testing: static pile load testing and dynamic pile load testing. The static pile load testing contributes to being the technique to test the specific in-situ capabilities of the pile. The specific test procedure depends on the pile head measurement in response to the specific physically applied load.

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After this, the test pile gets loaded with the aid of the calibrated hydraulic jack. The anchorage system, which comprises different reaction piles, restrains the test beam. With the installation and instrumentation of the load test frame, the hydraulic jack is applicable to the test load in different increments series.

Therefore, it is possible to test different piles for the execution of tension, compression, and lateral loads. The QA analysts execute the test results to ascertain that the pile design load is supported properly. The results help in facilitating different project cost savings with the decrease of the overall pile length.

The dynamic load testing contributes to being the efficient and faster technique to assess the foundation bearing capabilities, which need the instrumentation of the in-depth foundation. You can undertake the PDA testing during different re-strike drivers and initial driving, with the enabling of the soil set up on the specific pile for the specific time period.

You can execute the CAP WAP analysis on the field data from the chosen representative hammer blow from the specific PDA test records. PDA testing is recognized to be the trustworthy, affordable, and faster tool, which helps in saving an ample amount of money and time.

It helps in the establishment of the comprehensive and optimized pile testing program for the specific project. It is useful in reducing the total count of the static pile load testing. In addition to this, it helps in enhancing the total count of different dynamic pile load testing under different conditions for the calibration of the PDA testing against different static PLT results.

The PIT or Low Strain Pile Integrity Testing is regarded as an excellent budget-friendly and faster process for the evaluation of the concrete piles’ shaft integrity. This technique is beneficial for testing the pile quality. It is possible to execute the test techniques with the aid of the handheld hammer. The specific accelerometer gets attached to the pile top. The compressive wave gets produced with the clicking of the pile head with the aid of the hammer.

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Methodologies of testing

There are different kinds of testing piles, including the CRP or Constant Rate of Penetration Test and Maintained Test. The maintained load testing is regarded as the effective methodology which offers the shaft and end resistance idea. In this specific methodology, it is possible to calculate the soil layer’s contribution.

However, it consumes an ample amount of time. Here, the failure load is not defined clearly. Depending on the specific workload, the load is applicable by either of the below-mentioned methodologies:

  • With the jacking against the truss and beam, thereby connecting the adjacent loads and anchor piles, which are higher than the 5000 kN
  • With the reaction against the loads’ kentledge for the loads, to about 5000 kN
  • Standard penetration testing

The standard penetration testing is ideal for the in-setu tests. It is considered to be the excellent option for cohesion less soils as it is not sampled properly. You can execute the tests for finding the cohesion less soils shearing resistance angle and pertinent density. In addition to this, it is effective in finding the unrestrained cohesive soils compression strength.

You can apply the standard split spoon sampler for the execution of the standard penetration testing within the borehole. As the borehole gets drilled to the prerequisite depth, different drilling tools get eliminated.  

There are different benefits of the SPT or Standard Penetration Testing:

  1. It is possible to execute the tests faster.
  2. It is possible to perform the standard penetration testing process simply, at the least cut off from the pocket.
  3. It helps in penetrating the gravel, dense layers, and tilt.

Different tools that help execute the standard penetration testing include Drop Happer and Standard Split Spoon Sampler. The SPT refers to the sampling and testing methodology, which is beneficial for different subsurface explorations extending through the low-strength and soil rock.

You can execute the tests for the determination of the shearing resistance angle of the cohesion less soils and relative density. It is also efficient for the determination of the specific unconfined cohesive soils strength. The ultimate benefit of the Penetration testing services is that the test is simple and involves a reduced cut-off from the pocket.

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