Pile Integrity Testing
There has been dramatic changes in the field of pile testing over the years, resulting in more practical and cost effective ways to test for a piles structural integrity.
In many cases a single pile failure can have serious consiquences on the structure in which it supports. Transmission lines inparticular being exposed to all the ellements that that nauture can offer make them a more susseptible target for rapid deterioration.
Utalising the Transient Dynamic Response (TDR) method, a complete inspection of the current state of a pile can be ascertained in a non destructive and time efficient means.
How does this method work ???
A geophone is placed on the pile cap surface once the surface has been properly prepared. Striking the pile cap with a PCB load cell equiped hammer, the impulse response is then measured and all data necessary to determine the pile’s integrity can then be analysed.
The Transient Dynamic Response (TDR) meothod of assessing the integrity of piles has long been regarded as the best technique available. The system measures both the input force to a pile as well as the resulting velocity response which allows the pile shaft to be examined in both a cross section and depth direction.
The TDR method allows for a rapid means of assessing the integrity of both pre-cast and in situ concrete piles.
This method of assesseing piles is able to locate acoustic anomalies corresponding to the following:
• Foundation Toe level
• Shaft restraints
• Overbreak (Increases in shaft section)
• Cracks
• Reductions in section
• Zones of poor quality concrete
The information gathered from each test can be reviewed in real time, making adjustments if required before continuing any further. All information collected throughout the project can then be uploaded into a computer modelling programme ready for presentation in a written report.
