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AGES - Method Statement For PDA

Uploaded by

Researcher
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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2020

Method Statement
for
PILE DYNAMIC
ANALYSIS
(PDA)

ADVANCED GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES


Soil Investigation and Materials Testing Remote & Dynamic Pile Testing (PDA)

Pile Integrity Testing (PIT) Static Load Testing Cross-Hole (Ultrasonic) Testing

Tel No.: (632) 8939-6368 ; 8921-1322 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ages.ph


WORK METHOD STATEMENT
FOR
HIGH-STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING

(ASTM D4945)

Page 1 of 7
I. INTRODUCTION

High-strain dynamic testing (Restrike) is a non-destructive test performed by obtaining and


analyzing records of shaft force and velocity under drop weight impacts for evaluations of
shaft load carrying capacity and structural integrity, among others. The general testing
procedure is covered under ASTM D 4945 -08 specifications.

A Pile Driving Analyzer, Pak and/or latest 8G PDA-S Model (Manufactured by PDI, USA),
will be used for the high-strain dynamic testing. The test shall utilize the so-called Case
Method to obtain quick quantitative results at the site, such as Hammer transfer energy,
compressive and tensile stresses in the pile, estimated pile capacity during driving, etc.

Graphs of the Force and Velocity records will be continuously viewed from the PDA monitor
for each blow for on site appreciation and evaluation.

II. PILE PREPARATION

The Contractor shall provide for the test setup, which shall include the supply of all the
materials and equipment required to prepare the test pile, and dynamically load the test pile.

The test setup shall include, but not limited to:


1) PDA test piles.
2) The upper part of this pile will have to be exposed and inspected for material defect.
And if a defect be found, the same should be corrected by hacking and removing,
prior to the construction of the temporary extension.
3) For bored piles, the pile will have to be provided with temporary extension for PDA
testing purposes. The temporary pile extension or pile top extension must be
encased in a thin walled casing or equivalent (split casing is not advisable). Length
should be at least 1.5-2.0 meters. Casing of the temporary pile extension must be
made as a natural continuation and properly aligned with the axis of the pile proper.
4) For steel-cased pile, timber / plywood cushion having about the same diameter and
size of the concrete area must be provided. The hammer is intended to impact the
concrete surface of the pile, and care must be exercised to avoid hitting the steel
casing. For driven piles, a plywood cushion covering the entire area is needed.
5) Attachment of the gauges must be placed at least 1.5-2 meters from the pile top or
at least 1.0 meter below the construction joint of the original pile and the pile extension.
Page 2 of 7
It is preferred to have the gauges below the joint to avoid complications arising from
imperfect construction of the same. This may distort data and be rendered inconclusive.
If the gauge attachment location will be below grade or ground level, the
surrounding soil will have to be excavated. The contractor shall have the equipment
(used for excavation) ready/available during testing in case additional excavation
works willbe needed. Pile top concrete should be free from soil contamination,
presence of dirty concrete, or any other non-uniformities within or just below the part
of the shaft where the gauges will be attached.
6) Shoring of the excavation to avoid possible collapse of the surrounding soil before
and during testing must be undertaken prior to actual mobilization for safety reason,
and to avoid standby time. Continuous pumping of entrapped water inside the
excavation will have to be provided to make it dry, and avoid the gauges from getting
wet or soaked.
7) Drop hammer must be in good working condition, and should be of adequate size
suitable to prove the required ultimate pile capacity. A guide system for the hammer
must also be provided for concentric impact to the pile and for safety purposes. The
preferred drop weight is about two percent (2%) of the pile capacity one tries to
prove, and necessary support equipment and services such as crane and field
personnel to apply the required impact during the PDA testing should also be
provided.
For a certain target Ultimate pile capacity (kN), a drop weight of 2% the equivalent
tons is required (i.e. for an ultimate pile capacity of 5,000 kN, a 10-tons drop hammer
is appropriate) . A free-fall, tripping mechanism (hook) should also be provided for a
more efficient hammer energy transfer.
8) During testing, for practical and safety reason, the test will start with a low-energy
blow with the hammer dropped from about 0.5 – 0.75m meter height to test the
driving system and check pile stresses. Depending on the observed pile set and
other practical field considerations such as compressive and tensile stresses, the
drop height for the next blow is then increased (to a maximum of 3.0m height), or
until the required ultimate capacity is achieved, provided that the stresses are within
the allowable (0.85fc’ for compression) and that safety issues were also taken into
consideration.
9) A shaft top cushion consisting of sheets of plywood with total thickness between 25
to 50 mm (about 1 to 2 inches), or as determined by the Engineer shall be provided.

Page 3 of 7
10) An independent team of Surveyor with suitable surveying equipment (i.e., transit) to
measure pile sets during Restrike testing must be provided by the Client /
Contractor during testing.
11) Working area consisting of table and shade/shelter for the PDA Machine and test
crew in case of rain or extreme exposure to sun / heat must be provided during
testing.
12) Power Supply. 220 V AC uninterrupted and stable power supply during pile
preparation for hand drill and grinder.
13) The hammer impact causes noise and some minimal vibration. The distraction that
the noise creates is more of a concern than the effect to adjacent structures. A traffic
aide maybe engaged to direct traffic away from the PDA test area when hammer is
about to be dropped.

III. PILE INSTRUMENTATION & GAUGE ATTACHMENT

AGES shall provide the following testing instrumentation.


1) Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) manufactured by Pile Dynamics, Inc., model PAK or the
newer PDA-S Model.
2) Four (4) calibrated strain transducers. Two (2) calibrated strain transducers for driven
piles.
3) Two (2) calibrated piezo-electric accelerometers.

Prior to performing the dynamic test, AGES Team must be provided with soil borings
representing the actual pile location, driving records, pile construction records, detailed
excavation and concrete pouring records, concrete tests (strength, etc.) and other
pertinent details (design capacity, safety factor & etc.).

Field instrumentation involves the attachment of strain transducers and piezoelectric


accelerometers on diametrically opposite sides of the pile near the top. The pile will be
instrumented using 4 strain (2 strain for driven piles) gauges and 2 piezoelectric
accelerometers. These gauges will then be attached to the PDA machine by the main
connecting cable.

Pile shaft will have to be practically uniform just below the gauge location, or saying it in
another way, the gauges should not be placed just above the pile section where there are
abrupt changes in cross- section (bulges / necks) and/or material quality. This could mean
excavation to expose the pile shaft to show good concrete quality and shaft shape
uniformity.
Page 4 of 7
IV. GATHERING OF DYNAMIC DATA

During testing, the PDA machine processed the records almost instantaneously and
calculates values with some simplifying assumptions using the Case Method. The
calculated values can be viewed on the screen in real time. Among other data, information
such as 1) the maximum mobilized capacity for the specific blow, RMX; 2) the pile integrity
factor, BTA; 3) maximum average pile compressive stresses (CSX); 4) maximum delivered
energy (EMX), etc., can be obtained during actual testing.

For the Restrike Tests, the testing is normally conducted at least 24 days after concreting or
more depending on the diameter of the pile. The gauges shall be attached at diametrically
opposite sides of the pile, with 2 sets (1 set for driven piles)of strain and 1 set of
accelerometers, about 1.5-2 meters from the top. After attaching the gauges to the PDA
Machine, the test pile is then dynamically loaded using the drop hammer to activate and
measure the pile capacity. The drop height is normally started low, and raised higher for
higher energy until the required pile capacity is proven, or until the ultimate capacity is
achieved.

After the test, the data is electronically stored and back-up as part of the documentation
process for evaluation in the office.

V. DATA PROCESSING AND CAPWAP ANALYSIS

The data obtained in the field is processed for a more detailed analysis using the Case Pile
Wave Analysis Program (CAPWAP®) for capacity determination. CAPWAP® program is an
iterative software tool that tries to match the measured force and/or velocity traces by
numerically modeling the soil and pile system. Among other things, pile properties such as
modulus, cross-sectional area and wavespeed, soil parameters such as skin and toe
quakes, damping factors, skin resistance distribution and end bearing, etc. are inputted to
the model to arrive at the desired match quality.

VI. REPORTING OF TEST RESULTS

The CAPWAP analyses shall be performed at AGES Office by PDI/PDCA world certified
individual/s, and the report will provide the final bearing capacity evaluation for the selected
blow, and other calculated values by the Capwap such as stresses in the pile, hammer
transfer energy, detected damage if any, splice condition, etc.

Page 5 of 7
VII. SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF PDA FIELD TEST SYSTEM

Page 6 of 7
TYPICAL SET-UP OF PDA TESTING

Crane
(by client contractor)

Hammer Guide
(by client contractor)

Tripping mechanism
(by client contractor)
Drop Hammer
(by client contractor)
Plywood cushion, 25-50mm thick
(by client contractor)

Temporary Pile Extension cased


with thin walled casing
(by client contractor)

The entire set-up will be done by the Client’s Contractor. AGES will provide the
testing equipment such as strain gauge, accelerometers, wires and PDA
machine.

Page 7 of 7

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