Rapid Load Testing on Piles

Rapid Load Testing on Piles

Editors

Paul Hlscher
Deltares, Delft,The Netherlands

Frits van Tol

Delft University of Technology, Delft,The Netherlands
Department of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Deltares, Delft,The Netherlands

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Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction

vii
ix
1

P. HLSCHER AND A.F. VAN TOL

Seminar papers: Advances in international research

1

Belgian national project on screw piles Overview of

the comparative load testing program

15

N. HUYBRECHTS, J. MAERTENS AND A. HOLEYMAN

Recommendations for Statnamic use and interpretation

of piles installed in clay

23

M. BROWN

Load transfer in rapid load pile tests in clays

37

A.F.L. HYDE AND M.J. BROWN

Practice of rapid load testing in Japan

47

T. MATSUMOTO

Influence of rate effect and pore water pressure during

Rapid Load Test of piles in sand

59

P. HLSCHER, A.F. VAN TOL AND N.Q. HUY

Concrete stress determination in Rapid Load Tests

M. STOKES AND G. MULLINS

73

vi

Contents

Delft Cluster project

7

Rapid model pile load tests in the geotechnical centrifuge (1)

103

N.Q. HUY, A.F. VAN TOL AND P. HLSCHER

Rapid model pile load tests in the geotechnical centrifuge (2):

Pore pressure distribution and effects

129

A.F. VAN TOL, N.Q. HUY AND P. HLSCHER

Database of field measurements of SLT and RLT for calibration

151

P. HLSCHER AND A.F. VAN TOL

10

Draft standard for execution of a rapid load test

165

Preface

The bearing capacity of a foundation pile depends almost solely on the soil in which
the pile is installed. Although the foundation engineer strongly relies on the correlation
between the bearing capacity of a pile and the results of field-tests (such as CPT and
SPT), there has been strong desire for more empirical information on the real bearing
capacity of foundation piles. Many contractors develop new cast-in-place systems,
progress in this field would also benefit from more intensive testing of the actual
bearing capacity.
Unfortunately, static load tests on piles are time consuming and expensive. The limited number of tests hinders the development of cheaper and more reliable foundation
systems, the delivery of higher added value to the market by contractors and an adequate
quality control by principals and building authorities. A rapid load test may form a good
alternative for a static load test; it is faster and therefore economically more attractive.
Before rapid load testing on piles can be embraced however, there is a need for
validation of this method to ensure that it forms a decent alternative for a static load
test. Moreover, there is a need for a standard prescribing a consequent test execution,
and a guideline enforcing a proper interpretation of test results; all together, a uniform, international test standard should be developed.
We started our research at Delft University of Technology and GeoDelft (now
part of Deltares) as a Dutch project, following a grant of Delft Cluster and a grant
of the World Bank for a PhD-student. Considering the importance of international guidelines in todays globalizing world and the fact that regulation should meet
the European Euro codes, it soon became a joint project of European researchers.
We organized two seminars, to discuss the progress in rapid load testing and the
need for regulation. These seminars, originally intended for Europe only, were also
attended by researchers from Japan and the USA. Following these meetings, all partners agreed to write a contribution presenting an overview of their research, the core
results and the implications for the engineering practice.
This book contains the expert contributions by worldwide leading researchers.
The effects of various factors are investigated, such as the influence of the loading
rate, pore water pressure and the tests reliability under field conditions. We have
authored general information on rapid load testing and results of field tests and centrifuge testing to complete the contents. The book presents an accurate description of
the execution of the rapid load test.
Paul Hlscher
Frits van Tol

Acknowledgments

The financial support of the following partners is kindly acknowledged:

Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management

IHC Hydrohammer
Shell Global Solutions
VWS Geotechniek
Ballast Nedam

The grant of the Delft Cluster for this project is kindly acknowledged.
All partners in the project, both national as international, who supported the
project with their activities, are kindly acknowledged. Especially all authors who wrote
a paper for the seminar, played an essential role in the realization of this book.
The financial support of Berminghammer Inc. for the creation of this book is
kindly acknowledged.