Dynamic Load Test on Piles – Objective, Procedure &
Analysis
Dynamic load test on piles is a method that can be used to evaluate pile load-
carrying capacity by applying a dynamic load. The method is valid, reliable, and
helps evaluate pile capacity quickly compared to static load tests, and one or
more piles can be tested per day as per the requirement of the project. Dynamic
load test for piles is conducted using Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) to determine
pile load capacity by collecting and analysing force and velocity data under drop-
weight impacts. The field data are further analysed using Pile Wave Analysis to
refine the soil parameter and assumptions.
Objective: Dynamic Load Test on Piles
Static pile capacity at the time of load testing.
Simulated static load test curve
Bearing capacity and skin friction
Distribution pattern of skin friction along the pile shaft
developed compressive stresses during testing
Displacement of the test pile
Pile integrity
Pile and Test Preparation:
Dynamic load test on piles is carried out by fixing strain sensors and
accelerometers to the sides of the test pile below 1.5 times of pile
diameter or higher from the pile head top and then connecting them
with PDA.
Test pile should be extended to 1.6 times pile diameter after chipping
top loose concrete.
In the case of the liner pile, two openings (300mm x 300mm) shall be
left below 1.5 times of pile diameter from the top of the pile head for
sensor fixing.
The extended pile head diameter, reinforcement and grade of concrete
should be the same as the actual pile. A higher grade of concrete mix
can be used for pile head built up if required after special approval from
the authority.
Vertical and helical reinforcement shall also be extended to avoid
cracking of concrete under hammer impact.
A reinforcement mesh must be provided at the top of the pile
reinforcement, as shown in the test pile drawing.
Concrete at the sensor level shall be smooth, hard and uniform.
It is necessary to ensure that the pile top has sound concrete, and it
should be even and flat at the top. The pile sides also shall be
reasonably uniform in diameter.
After grinding, a flat surface is prepared to fix the sensors.
Sometimes a pile top cushion consisting of sheets of plywood with a
total thickness between 25mm to 50mm or as directed by the Test
Engineer shall be placed on the top of the pile head before testing.
Pile Monitoring and Analysis:
After 15 days of pile installation, a dynamic load test on piles may be
carried out, providing the cube compressive strength of pile concrete
and built-up portion concrete has achieved the required strength.
High Strain dynamic load test for piles is conducted by fixing strain
transducers and accelerometers to the sides of the pile shaft. The
sensors, as mentioned above, are connected to the PDA through the
main cable.
First of all, sensors record strain and acceleration measurements and
convert them from analogue to digital form and display them on PDA
screens.
Dynamic load test for piles is started by impacting the pile head with a
hammer blow, starting with a smaller drop height (typically 0.5m). This
is to ensure the correctness of the data and the setup arrangements.
Each hammer blow, the strain transducers measure strains, whereas
accelerations are measured by accelerometers connected on the other
sides of the test pile.
By integration, these signals are converted to digital form by the
equipment and then converted to force and velocity.
PDA displays immediate field results in the form of the mobilized
capacity, pile top compression, integrity, stresses etc., are shown after
each hammer blow.
The force and velocity curve shall be as per ASTM D4945.
Dynamic load test on piles is continued by increasing the hammer
height by around 0.5m increments until either the pile set or the pile
capacity reaches the required or limiting values.
The limiting value for the pile capacity would be the test load at which
settlement would be 3-4mm per blow. In other words, a test can be
terminated when settlement is more than 3-4mm per blow.
Generally, the pile capacity shall be considered fully mobilized if the
energy levels due to hammer impact are enough to cause a measurable
net displacement of at least 3-4mm per blow for a minimum of three
successive impacts.
Suppose the pile settlement is less than 3-4mm per blow and the pile
achieves the required capacity. In that case, 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.
After combining measured field data with the pile wave equation, an
analytical method can predict the static bearing capacity of the test pile
and the distribution of soil resistance.
Recorded force and velocity data is straight input as obtained from field
measurements.
Depending on the measured velocity, the program computes the force
required to cause the imposed velocity.
Both measured and computed forces are plotted as a function of time.
The interactive analysis is continued until a good match quality
between both the curves is received.
If the match quality is not satisfactory, the soil resistances at the pile
point and along the pile shaft are adjusted until a good match is found.
This provides a better judgment of the actual static pile capacity
measured during the field dynamic load test on piles and the friction
and end-bearing components.
A good match is obtained when match quality is less than five tor bored
piles. However, there may be exceptions that shall be acceptable when
justifiable.
A graphical printout can be obtained 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 the following key input and output
results,
Input Parameters Dynamic Load Test on Piles:
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 returns time (2L/c)
The pile modulus at the transducer location
The pile specific weight
The pile area at the transducer location (AR)
The pile impedance
The Case Method damping factor (Jc)
Output Parameters for Dynamic Load Test on Piles:
The maximum force applied (FMX)
The maximum energy imparted to the pile (EMX)
The maximum displacement of the pile head (DMX)
The pile capacity estimate (RMX, RSU)
Force velocity proportionality (FVP)
The maximum compressive stress in a pile (CSX)
The maximum tensile stress in a pile (TSX)
Estimated finalnile set (DEN)
The final report contains all aspects of pile monitoring. The report will
incorporate the results of CAPWAP analysis and a plot of simulated static load
test curve with all the output mentioned in the introduction that satisfies all the
requirements of a standard dynamic load test on piles.
Limitation of Dynamic Load Test on Piles:
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.
Unlike static testing, the evaluation of dynamic pile test results requires
an experienced engineer trained in interpreting the results.
Reference:
ASTM D4945
