JHELL SIDING HOWRAH

Document Title

METHOD STATEMENT FOR HIGH STRAIN PILE

DYNAMIC LOAD TEST

Issued For Client Mr. KARTICK

A2 20.01.2020 Mr. UMESH PRASAD
Review ADHIKARY

Rev Date Purpose of Issue Prepared by Checked and Approved by

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sl. No. Description Page No.

1 Introduction 03

2 Pile Test Preparation 03-05

3 Pile Monitoring and analysis 06-07
4 Reporting 08-09
5 Limitations 09

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 1. Introduction

High Strain Dynamic testing like a static load test can be used to evaluate pile
capacity. The test procedure is standardized as per ASTM D4945-2000 and also
forms part of various specifications and code provisions worldwide. The method is
convenient, reliable and helps evaluate pile capacity and integrity in quick time and
one or more piles can be tested per day.
The testing is conducted using Pile Driving Analyser TM (PDA) by obtaining and
analysing records of force and velocity under drop weight impacts. The field results
are further analysed with a signal matching technique (Case Pile Wave Analysis
Program – CAPWAP) to refine the soil parameter assumptions. The output from the
test result can be summarized as below.

• Static capacity of the pile at the time of testing.

• Simulated static load test curve
• Total skin friction and end bearing of the pile
• Compressive stresses developed in the pile during testing
• Net and total displacement of the pile.
• Pile integrity

Testing method and interpretation requires expertise and through understanding of

wave mechanics. The agency employed for testing shall prove its competency by
submitting previous reliability studies between static and high strain dynamic tests.

2.0 Pile and Test Preparation

1. The testing is conducted by fixing strain sensors and accelerometers to the sides of the
pile at a depth of at least 1.5 x pile diameters from top of pile and then connecting them
to the PDA.
2. For this it is desirable that the pile is extended to 1.6 times the pile diameter after
chipping top loose concrete. This can be done either using formwork or permanent
casing.

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 3. If it is a liner pile, two openings/windows approximately 300mm x 300mm and
diametrically opposite to each other shall be made into the liner at 1.5 x pile diameter
from top for fixing the sensor.

4. The extended pile head shall be of same diameter, axial, flat and have same strength or
preferably one grade higher than pile concrete. The rebar’s and helical reinforcement
shall also be extended to avoid cracking of concrete under hammer impact. A rebar
mesh shall be provided at top as shown in Figure: 1. Note that the reinforcement in the
extended pile and the diameter of bars shall generally be the same as pile reinforcement.
Further, the concrete at the sensor level shall be smooth hard and uniform.

5. It is also necessary to ensure that the pile top has sound concrete and it is made even
and flat at top. The pile sides also shall be reasonably of uniform diameter and grinding
on pile sides is required to fix the sensors.

6. A pile top cushion consisting of sheets of plywood with total thickness between 25mm
to 100mm or as determined by the Test Engineer shall be placed on the top of the pile
before testing. Please refer table 1 given below for thickness of plywood cushion for
specified pile.

7. Steel helmet 25 mm-50mm thick or as determined by the Test Engineer shall be kept
ready at the time of testing. Please refer table 1 given below for thickness of steel
helmet for specified pile.

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 8. A hammer of suitable weight (1-2% of test load or 7-10% of the dead weight of the
pile whichever is higher) shall be used for testing the pile unless specified otherwise by
the Test Engineer. The fall height generally varies from 0.5m to 3m. Please refer table 1
given below for required hammer weight of specified pile.

9. Wherever essential, a suitable guide shall be provided to ensure a concentric fall.

10. A suitable crane or equivalent mechanism capable of freely falling the required
hammer shall be arranged on site in consultation with the test engineer. Refer to Figure: 2
showing the setup arrangements. Please refer table 1 given below for required crane
capacity for specified hammer weight.

11. A suitable power source supply shall be provided for fixing sensors and for the test
equipment.

TABLE 1 : TEST SET UP ARRANGEMENT

Pile Length Pile Sensor Max. Ham Steel Plywood Min.
Diameter Of Pile Head Depth Test mer Helmet Cushion Capacity
From Cut Built From Top Load Weig Thickness Thickne Mechanical
Off Level Up Of Head ht ss
Built Up

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 3.0 Pile Monitoring And Analysis:
1. The testing may be conducted at least 15 days after the pile is installed. Make sure that
the pile concrete as well as built up portion achieve the required strength before the test.
The testing shall be conducted using Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) and its associated strain
transducers and accelerometers only.

2. Dynamic pile testing (High Strain Testing or PDA Testing) is conducted by attaching
strain transducers and accelerometers to the sides of the pile. A pair of transducers is fixed
onto opposite sides of the pile so as to detect bending in the pile if any during testing.

3. These transducers are then connected through the main cable to PDA which is a State
of Art Computer System with ability to record strain and acceleration measurements and
convert them from analog to digital form and display them on screen.

4. The testing is conducted by impacting the pile with blows of the hammer generally
starting with a smaller drop height (typically 0.5m). This is to ensure the correctness of the
data and the setup arrangements. For each hammer blow, the strain transducers measure
strains whereas accelerations are measured by accelerometers connected on either sides of
the pile. These signals are then converted to digital form by the equipment and then
converted to force and velocity respectively by integration.

5. For each hammer blow, the test system displays immediate field results in the form of
the mobilized capacity of the pile, pile top compression, integrity, stresses etc. The force
and velocity curve shall be generally as defined in ASTM D4945.

6. Testing is continued by increasing the hammer height by approximately 0.5m

increment till the time either the pile set or the pile capacity reaches the required or
limiting values. The limiting value for the pile capacity would be test load while for
settlement it would be 3-4mm per blow. In other words, a test can be terminated if pile
achieves required test load or if pile settles more than 3-4mm per blow. A typical force
velocity response is presented in Figure 3.

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 Figure: 3 Typical Force Velocity Trace Generated by PDA

7. The pile capacity shall be generally considered to be fully mobilized if the energy
levels due to hammer impact are sufficient so as to cause a measurable net displacement of
at least 3-4mm per blow for a minimum three successive impacts. If the pile set is less
than 3-4mm per blow and the pile achieves required capacity, then it implies that not all
the static pile resistance has been mobilized and that the pile still has some capacity that
could not be measured or was not required to be measured at the time of testing.

8. A typical blow is then selected for CAPWAP Analysis. The program is an analytical
method that combines measured field data with pile wave equation type procedures, to
predict the pile’s static bearing capacity and soil resistance distribution. Measured force
and velocity data is directly input as obtained from field measurements. Based on the
measured velocity data, the program computes force required to induce the imposed
velocity. Both measured and computed forces are plotted as a function of time and the
iterative analysis is continued till there is good agreement between both the curves. If the
agreement is not satisfactory, the soil resistances at the pile point and along the pile are
adjusted until a good match is obtained. This gives better estimates of the actual static pile
capacity measured during field testing, and also the friction and end bearing components.
9. A good match is obtained when match quality is less than 5 for bored piles.
However, exceptions shall be acceptable when justifiable.

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 4.0 Reporting:
Measured Net
Capacity Settlement
Dia. of Drop measured Pile top Pile depth
Pile in Height on field in compression from test
Pile No. mm in M RMX RSU mm in mm level(Le/Lp) Remarks

On completion of all field work, the field datasheet shall be prepared in the format below.

A graphical print out shall be provided on site which shall include input and output
quantities. The force/velocity response graph, the upward and downward wave time
response graph, the static and dynamic resistance-time graph, the energy time and
displacement time graph shall be presented along with following key input and output
results.
Input Parameters
• Pile No.
• Date and time of test
• The pile length below gauges (LE)
• The adopted pile wave speed at the pile head and the overall wave speed
• The wave return time (2L/c)
• The pile modulus at the transducer location
• The pile specific weight
• The pile area at transducer location (AR)
• The pile impedance
• The Case Method damping factor (Jc)

Output Parameters
 The maximum force applied to the pile head (FMX)
 The maximum energy imparted to the pile (EMX)
 The maximum displacement of the pile head (DMX)


 The pile capacity estimate (RMX, RSU)

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  Force velocity proportionality (FVP)
 The maximum compressive stress in the pile (CSX)
 The maximum tensile stress in the pile (TSX)
 The estimated final pile set (DFN)

The final report shall be prepared within seven days covering all aspects of the pile
monitoring. This report will incorporate results of CAPWAP analysis and a plot of
simulated static load test curve and all the output mentioned at introduction thus satisfying
all the requirements of a standard load test. The following shall be tabulated.

Pile No.
Pile Capacity
Skin Friction
End Bearing
Net Displacement
Total Displacement
Compressive Stress
Tensile Stress
Pile Integrity From Test Level(Sensor Level)

5.0 Test Limitations

1.0 Although the method can be used to predict skin friction and end bearing along the
length of the pile, these values should be used with caution as the CAPWAP is an iterative
procedure. Further this separation also depends on pile geometry; reliability of soil bore
log, and movement of the pile under repetitive impacts.
2.0 Unlike static testing, evaluation of dynamic pile test results requires an experienced
engineer trained in interpretations of the results.

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