Load Test

[Balageotech]

Dear Geotechnical Engineer,

We have done bored piles (socketed in hard rcok),

Number of piles are 50 (for Buildings)

We have not done any test pile. is it acceptable?

If so, Do i need to perform test on working pile to all the piles?

What kind of test it more appropriate?

 

[fattdad]

We'd have a test pile program that'd be outside of the production piles. We may (likely) also perform dynamic pile testing on production piles. It just saves money to do dynamic testing as we use LRFD for our structural design.

Now your question is one of need. So, no as far as I'm concerned you don't need to do load testing on rock socketed piles. I'n not your audience though. So, who cares what I think you need? You may have somebody that says it's needed though.

Is this limestone? Are there voids below the socket? Where is the job? Are there (U.S.) federal dollars on the project? Sometimes the logistics determine the answer. . .

f-d

ípapß gordo ainÆt no madre flaca!

 

[oldestguy]

Answer: It depends. For instance if your loads are light and there is a significant safety factor within the piles themselves and your estimate of pile end bearing, probably no test. However,if you are at the upper edge of pile ultimate compressive strength within them, a test will show to the owner that they have a safe project.

 

[Mccoy]

If the rock is really hard, that is, rock mass unconfined compressive strenght is greater than concrete, if the rock mass is homogenoeus, if the bottomhole is clean, if there are no fillings or cavities, as already FD pointed out, then, I believe most people would consider that redundant.

However, +1 on FD's post, some regulations require load tests on piles no matter what. And, +1 on OG's latests post, you would really give evidence that, even with much larger loadings than design allows, your foundations are 99.999999% reliable. In other words, safety factor would be huge.

http://www.mccoy.it