Resources
We have answers. Take a look through our FAQs for some quick solutions.
Dynamic Load Testing / Pile Monitoring (PDA)
- How often do Pile Driving Analyzer® (PDA) sensors need 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" when performing 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 test required during the test pile period to establish driving criteria, as well as during the production pile period?
- Can PAX sensors be used with a PDA-8G unit? What additional equipment is needed? What are the associated disadvantages?
Pile Integrity Tester (PIT)
- 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 the PIT can test?
- How accurate is the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) in determining foundation lengths?
- Can PIT test results be confirmed by comparing them to 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?
- Can the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) be used to evaluate the length and defects of piles that support 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 the integrity, depth, and loading capability of existing concrete piles?
- Is there a relationship between concrete strength and wave speed? How can the acceptable minimum wave speed be determined?
- When performing two accelerometer PIT tests, if the top of the pile cannot be struck, can the pile be struck on the side?
- Using PIT, will reflections from the reinforcing mask the signal significantly?
- With what certainty can pile lengths be determined by PIT?
- How is the real wave velocity found by a Pile Integrity Test (PIT)?
- How often does the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) need to be recalibrated?
- How often does the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) accelerometer and instrumented hammer need recalibrated?
Cross Hole Sonic Logging (CHAMP)
- What is the maximum possible distance between the access tubes required for cross-hole sonic logging?
- What is the recommended calibration procedure for CSL equipment?
- Can galvanized iron tubes be used for CSL?
- What size defects can be detected?
- When preparing a shaft for CSL, can access tubes with different diameters be used in the same shaft?
- Is TomoSonic still supported?
- Is there a relationship between concrete strength and wave speed? How can the acceptable minimum wave speed be determined?
- 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)?
- Are there known Thermal Integrity Profiler (TIP) testing results that show voids in the shaft? If so, how well are the voids 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?
- How does debonding affect the TIP by "Probe Method"?
- What is the best time for Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP)?
- How many tubes / Thermal Wire® cables need installed per shaft?
- How does soil temperature affect the TIP results? Does the soil temperature need measured 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 the condition of a shaft's top and bottom be discerned from 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 with TIP?
- Can Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) detect a cold joint?
- Are TIP results easy to interpret?
- Can Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP) be performed with water in the access tubes?
- Can galvanized or PVC tubes be used for TIP by the Probe Method?
- What happens when different concrete mixes are delivered to a single shaft?
- Can TIP 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)?
- Previously the FHWA driven 1.2 software could be used to import soil layer properties into GRLWEAP. Now, 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
- When performing a CAPWAP® analysis the following messages were displayed: “Warning: Not fully activated resistance” and “Totally activated resistance: XXX.” What do these messages mean?
- My CAPWAP® analysis shows 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?
- What Case / Smith damping factor and quake (shaft and toe) values are recommended when using CAPWAP® for specific pile soil combinations?
Pile Installation Recorder (PIR)
- What are the advantages of using a Pile Installation Recorder (PIR) Magnetic Flow Meter to measure the amount of grout installed in an augered cast-in-place or continuous flight auger pile as opposed to counting pump strokes?
- How long will it take the crane operator to become proficient with the PIR?
- How often does the PIR wireless transmitter's battery need replaced (used with the wireless rotation and wireless depth units)?
- How long does it take to install the PIR equipment?
- Can the PIR equipment be installed by a contractor?
- How is pile data reported and saved by the PIR?
