Resources
We have answers. Take a look through our FAQs for some quick solutions.
Dynamic Load Testing / Pile Monitoring (PDA)
- How often do the Pile Driving Analyzer® (PDA) sensors need to be recalibrated?
- Can battered (inclined, raked) piles be dynamically tested with the Pile Driving Analyzer® (PDA)? What is the difference in the procedure compared with vertical piles?
- Can ductile cast iron piles (DYWIDAG brand) be dynamically tested with the PDA?
- Does iCAP® Replace the Traditional CAPWAP®?
- Does iCAP® replace the CASE Method?
- What factor of safety is recommended for dynamic tests?
- What qualifies as "good PDA data" during a high strain dynamic load test?
- Is the PDA test procedure different for a test run to failure than for a test run to a lesser proof load?
- How important is it to periodically have the Pile Driving Analyzer® (PDA) sensors recalibrated?
- Does Pile Dynamics, Inc (PDI) provide calibration certificates of the Pile Driving Analyzer® (PDA) sensors? What do these certificates look like?
- How are the energy quantities for the PDA (EMX, EFV, ETR and ETH) and for the SPT Analyzer (EMX, EFV, ETR, E2E, E2F, EF0, EF2, EV2) calculated?
- What specific weight, elastic modulus and wave speed should be entered into the PDA / GRLWEAP when testing / analyzing ductile cast iron piles (DYWIDAG brand)?
- Can I use iCAP® as a starting point for a traditional CAPWAP® analysis?
- What is iCAP® ?
- How is the pile weight accounted for in dynamic testing?
- Can uplift be estimated from dynamic testing?
- How many PDA tests are normally required in the USA?
- Is a PDA testing required during both the test pile period for establishing driving criteria and production pile period after driving criteria?
Pile Integrity Tester (PIT)
- How often do the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) accelerometer and instrumented hammer need to be re-calibrated?
- What is the maximum size foundation that can be tested with the PIT?
- Can steel piles be tested with the PIT?
- What is the minimum pile length that can be tested with the PIT?
- How accurate is the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) when used for determining foundation lengths?
- Can the results of PIT tests be confirmed by comparing them with the piling records?
- Which hammer sizes should be used for Pile Integrity Testing (PIT)?
- Which pile top locations should be chosen for impacting the pile with the PIT hammer?
- How often does the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) need to be recalibrated?
- Can the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) be used to evaluate the length and defects of piles supporting existing structures?
- What is the maximum length/diameter (L/D) ratio for low strain integrity (PIT) tests?
- Is it possible to test timber piles with PIT?
- Is it possible to assess integrity, depth and loading capability of existing concrete piles?
- Is there a relation between concrete strength and wave speed? How can I determine the minimum acceptable wave speed?
- For two accelerometer PIT tests, if we are unable to strike the top of the pile, can the pile be struck on the side?
- Using PIT, will reflections from the reinforcing mask the signal significantly?
- How do I find the real wave velocity from a Pile Integrity Test (PIT)?
- How can I be certain of the pile lengths determined by PIT?
- How often does the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) need to be recalibrated?
- How often do the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) accelerometer and instrumented hammer need to be re-calibrated?
Cross Hole Sonic Logging (CHAMP)
- What is the maximum possible distance between the access tubes required for cross-hole sonic logging?
- In order to perform tomography analysis on cross-hole sonic logging data, is it necessary to do additional scans with the emitter and receiver somewhat offset in the vertical plane?
- Is there any calibration for CSL equipment?
- Can galvanized iron tubes be used for CSL?
- What size defects can be detected?
- When preparing a shaft for CSL, may I use access tubes of different diameters in the same shaft?
- Does the TomoSonic program run on Windows 7?
- Is there a relation between concrete strength and wave speed? How can I determine the minimum acceptable wave speed?
- For cross-hole sonic logging, what is the recommended number of tubes relative to the shaft diameter?
- For cross-hole sonic logging, what is the maximum spacing between the transmitter probe and the receiver probe?
Thermal Integrity Profiler (TIP)
- What are the advantages of the Thermal Integrity Profiler (TIP)?
- Have there been results from testing with the Thermal Integrity Profiler (TIP) that show voids in the shaft and if so how well were they represented?
- Is it necessary to know the concrete mix details to perform Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP)?
- What are the advantages / disadvantages of conducting Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) with Thermal Wire® cables versus with a thermal probe?
- Can Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) determine the size and location of defects?
- What is the best time for Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP)?
- How many tubes / Thermal Wire® cables do I need to install in a shaft as a function of shaft diameter?
- How does debonding affect the TIP by the "Probe Method"?
- How does the soil temperature affect the results? Do I need to measure the soil temperature at various depths?
- Can Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) be performed on a shaft without a full length reinforcing cage (or center rebar for augercast pile)?
- Can I tell anything about the condition at the top and bottom of the shaft based on TIP results?
- How does Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) determine concrete cover?
- How long does it take to perform Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) by the probe method?
- What size defects can be detected?
- Can Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) detect a cold joint?
- Are TIP results easy to interpret?
- Can Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) be accomplished with water in the access tubes?
- Can you use galvanized tubes for TIP by the Probe Method? How about PVC tubes?
- What happens when different concrete mixes are delivered to a single shaft?
- Can the test be performed if there is only a single center reinforcing bar installed in a Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) pile or Augered Cast-in-Place (ACIP) pile?
Wave Equation Analysis (GRLWEAP)
- What is a Refined Wave Equation (GRLWEAP) Analysis?
- What specific weight, elastic modulus and wave speed should be entered into the PDA / GRLWEAP when testing / analyzing ductile cast iron piles (DYWIDAG brand)?
- I have previously used the FHWA software driven 1.2 to import soil layer properties into GRLWEAP, however, FHWA driven 1.2 is no longer supported on newer operating systems. Does GRLWEAP 2010 allow entry of soil layer properties as an alternate method to the driven software?
CAPWAP® Signal Matching
- During a CAPWAP® analysis the following message was displayed 'Warning: Not fully activated resistance' and then 'Totally activated resistance: XXX'. What does this mean?
- My CAPWAP® analysis is showing a total capacity (Ru) greater than the applied force (FMX). Is that possible?
- Does iCAP® replace the traditional CAPWAP®?
- Can I use iCAP® as a starting point for a traditional CAPWAP® analysis?
- Can uplift be estimated from dynamic testing?
- Do you have recommendations for the Case / Smith damping factor and quake (shaft and toe) values to be used in CAPWAP® for specific pile soil combinations?
Pile Installation Recorder (PIR)
- What are the advantages of using a magnetic flow meter to measure the amount of grout installed in an augered cast-in-place or continuous flight auger pile, as the Pile Installation Recorder (PIR) does, over the method of counting pump strokes?
- How long will it take the crane operator to become proficient with the PIR?
- How often does the battery of the PIR wireless transmitter (used with the wireless rotation measurement unit and with the wireless depth measurement unit) need to be replaced?
- How long does it take to install the PIR equipment?
- Can I install the PIR myself?
- How is the pile data recorded with the PIR reported and saved?
SPT Energy Calibration (SPT)
- Can the Pile Driving Analyzer® (PDA) be used to measure the energy transferred to an SPT rod?
- How are the energy quantities for the PDA (EMX, EFV, ETR and ETH) and for the SPT Analyzer (EMX, EFV, ETR, E2E, E2F, EF0, EF2, EV2) calculated?
Acoustic Concrete Tester (ACT)
- What is the usual range of concrete wave speeds that should be used with the Acoustic Concrete Tester (ACT)?
