Dynamic Pile Monitoring helps achieve a safe and economical driven pile installation.

During pre-construction test programs, Dynamic Pile Monitoring helps formulate driving criteria. During the installation of production piles, it assures that driving happens in accordance with the established criterion. It gives information on soil resistance at the time of monitoring and on driving performance. Dynamic Pile Monitoring also reveals driving stresses, helping prevents pile damage. If damage is imminent, it shows an alert early enough to save the pile from complete destruction. Monitoring happens during driving in real time, without slowing down construction. GRL performs Pile Driving Monitoring either conventionally or remotely; the remote option increases scheduling flexibility at a lower cost.

When the pile driving hammer impacts the pile top, accelerometers and strain transducers attached to it obtain data that is converted to velocity and force readings. GRL analyzes the measurements with a Pile Driving Analyzer^® (PDA). Data obtained during Pile Driving Monitoring may be used to determine bearing capacity with CAPWAP^®.

GRL offers Vibration Monitoring as a complement to this service. Vibration Monitoring is particularly recommended when pile driving takes place in dense urban areas where adjacent structures may be of concern.

Dynamic Pile Monitoring is based on the Case Method of pile testing and is known as the High Strain Method. It is covered by ASTM D4945-00 Standard Test Method for High-Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles.

"...before the project started, I was unconvinced that the use of PDA would be a cost-effective benefit to the project. It turned out to be well worth the cost as it frequently provided key evaluations at times when very costly situations required immediate decisions."
Walter Grantz
Chief Engineer of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Project.