I understand that we were not actually going by the book (ASTM) when we talk about the procedures of testing. But I would like to point out that the code also suggests that the engineer may increase or decrease the 5D distance.
About the cracks, I doubt that the cracks you are pointing out to...
@Ingenuity,
Yes it is small.I recon that most of the load was borne by the elastic steel.
There were 4 dial gauges only. I am not entirely sure about the influence zone of the pile. But in my opinion, if that were the case, then there would have been some visible cracks on the ground surface...
Attached with this post are the results of the uplift pile load test. Post your comments on the results. I have used threaded 40mm bars for the uplift here. I am amazed to see the even with method, there was alot of elastic elongation. I doubt if the load was even transferred to the pile or...
There is water at 17' below NGL. The total excavation is 21'. Dewaterting wells are installed to lower the water table. The design was of the consultant. We recommended secant instead but the consultant was rigid.
@BigHarvey, that would be expensive.
@PEinc, what do you mean by the mobilisation of the cone of soil? The stratum is dense sand up to 4m depth, followed by claystone of 2-5 MPa unconfined strength. I think the pile can take the load. I am thinking of prestressing strandwires for this test. I...
@oldestguy, that can be done, but for a 900mm diameter pile, there is not enough room to add so many cables. The cables are actually a hindrance during the pouring for the tremie pipes.
@PEinc, it is a 900mm diameter pile RCC pile, the depth of the pile is 20m. It is a single pile which is to...
I have a requirement to conduct a tension pile load test for a test load of around 650tons. I want to know the most reliable way of tying the pile to the test beams for the pull. Recently I tried using prestressing cables for a test load of 515tons. The problem in using these is the elongation...
@ BigHarvey, This wasn't a CFA rig. It was the conventional hydraulic straight rotary; IMT 180 and SoilMec SR60. the drilling was done with the help of bentonite slurry to stabilise the borehole.
@Oldestguy, I wouldn't say the placement of the rig. Actually the kelly guide of both rig were...
Hokie66 is right about tangent piles.
@EireChch, yes, I meant soft clay, with 1-3 SPT blow counts. Did you mean a bored pile would collapse in soft clay? even with the use of bentonite slurry?
Actually we had a project of this nature and when the excavation was done, the quality was not good...
And it is not just about the requirement of safe distance. The requirement in ASTM of jack calibration and load cells is also an additional requirement when compared with the BS standard. Not every country has the facility to calibrate jacks.
I surely agree with the concept of safe distance between the test pile and the reaction pile. My question is on the rationale in deciding the safe distance. The BS standard defines it to be three time max dia c/c distance whereas ASTM is tad more conservation and asks for five times max dia...
Dear oldestguy,
I'd say that you are lucky that no one checks the books. I have also conducted a number of load tests, i have even failed some of them and learned quite a few things from these experiences. Astonishingly, I did not omit anything from the book in these tests and still the load...
When we compare the requirements of compressive axial pile load test of BS standard and ASTM standard, it is observed that the requirements of ASTM are very strict when compared to the BS standard. For instance, ASTM requires that the clear distance between reaction pile and test pile should be...
hi Dik,
A good case study for me, the Millennium tower. Do you agree that a detailed finite element analysis of such complex structures can result in better designs?
Bilal
Can finite element modelling of complex geotechnical structures result in cost savings to the clients?
usually structures like piled rafts are analysed separately, once only rafts are analysed and once only the piles, and then the results are compiled. if we use the softwares like Plaxis, can it...
Thank you JD,
Actually I did contact an expert, Garland Likins of Pile dynamics Inc. To be very honest, I wasn't expecting a reply from him, but fortunately to my disappointment he did reply, which was very helpful. His interpretation is as follows:
'The protruding dowels are likely the cause...
Hello everyone,
I have a few questions regarding interpretation of low strain pile integrity test graphs. Attached with my post are the results of four piles tested using PDI's Pile integrity tester. All that I have read on the internet and in books regarding the analysis process is that we...
