GP60 Pile Driving Analysis (PDA) device

DYNAMIC LOAD TESTING

Test method for determining the static load capacity of piles in compliance with ASTM D4945 and EuroCode NEN-EN-ISO 

22477-4.

High strain dynamic load testing for all type of foundation piles and deep foundations. Wireless monitoring equipment for Dynamic Load Testing, including AllWave-DLT Signal Matching software.

High Strain Dynamic Testing (or Dynamic Load Testing) can be a fast and cost-effective alternative to Static Load Testing of both concrete and steel piles. During the test, a load is applied to the pile by either an impact hammer or a suitable drop weight. The generated stress wave travels down to the pile toe and back up again to the top of the pile. Near the pile top the stress waves are captured by measuring the strain and acceleration. These signals can than be analysed to assess the pile capacity.

During pile driving the same set-up can be used to monitor and analyse in real-time the performance of the hammer, the condition of the pile cushion, the driving stresses and the pile driving process in general. This so-called Pile Driving Analysis (or PDA) reduces the risk of damage to both the pile and the hammer and allows the contractor to drive the pile to the optimum depth.

THE MONITORING SENSORS 

Each measuring system includes two combined sensors for measuring strain and accelerations. The sensors are delivered with a multipurpose template. This template is used for the protection of the sensors during transport and mounting. It is also used as a drilling template ensuring the exact positions of the two holes to be drilled for each combined sensor. Finally, it contains all necessary mounting materials (i.e bolts and Allen key)

The mounting of the sensors can be monitored by the PDR, to ensure stress-free instrumentation.

The status of the sensors is also continuously monitored before and during monitoring. On the screen of the field computer, the condition of all sensors is presented in real-time.

ALLWAVE SIGNAL MATCHING 

AllWave is a Wave Equation Analysing Program (WEAP) based on the Method of Characteristics for one-dimensional stress waves and offers the possibility to simulate the soil behaviour according to various soil models (TNO, Smith, and Randolph).

During the Signal Matching process, the soil model is adjusted until a good match between the calculated and measured upward traveling wave is obtained. The upward traveling wave contains information on the interaction between soil and pile shaft and toe.

The initial soil model is based on the soil investigation results. CPT’s, SPT’s and other soil investigation results can be imported digitally or digitized using the AllWave Soil Digitizer. Manual input of soil layers and soil parameters is possible as well.

The Signal Matching process is enhanced by several utilities, including AutoMatching support.

SPECIFICATIONS AND CODES

Our  equipment for Dynamic Load Testing is in compliance with a.o. ASTM D4945, and EuroCode EN ISO-22477-10, EMC, ESD.

Video visit: https://youtu.be/bnX6iJUGdqA