INTRODUCTION PROCEDURE
Defects in concrete piles caused Prior to testing the pile head should stress pulse travelling longitudinally
either during or after construction be exposed and cut back to sound within the pile shaft.
may seriously affect their concrete, with a reasonably level
performance in service. surface, free from standing water A transducer held against the pile
and pile cap reinforcing steel. It is head registers the initial impact and
Load testing of piles may be used to recommended that the shaft the subsequent vibration response of
check the assumptions adopted in concrete is allowed to cure for at the pile head. The measured signals
the load capacity design of the piles. least seven days before testing. are digitised by the test unit, and
However, it is too expensive and time stored in memory.
consuming to use load testing as a The test is performed by striking the
means of checking workmanship. pile head with either an instrumented
or conventional hammer to
Modern non-destructive methods propagate a compressive
based on small strain impulse
techniques enable the integrity of all
the piles on a site to be established
rapidly and economically to enhance
greatly confidence in the foundation.
© Copyright March 2005 Details of services and specifications may change without notice. Ref: C3-Pile Integrity Testing