Pile Driving Analysis and Dynamic Load Testing

First there is the pile design. Delta Marine Consultants can design and advise on the required pile type and length. Secondly the pile needs to be driven. Delta Marine Consultants can advise on the optimum driving hammer for the job. Pile driveability analysis is carried out based on the pile and soil data. Thirdly, when the pile is installed, predicted driving performance and pile capacity needs to be verified. Delta Marine Consultants offers PDA and DLT to monitor driving and evaluate pile capacity.

Equipment

PDA and DLT testing is carried out using 2 sensors, measuring strain and acceleration, bolted to the pile. The pile is driven or hit by a hammer (PDA/DLT) or impact ram (DLT). PDA is carried out during pile driving, DLT is performed at some time after driving or casting, when the soil setup has developed.

Pile Driving Analysis

PDA testing can performed on prefab concrete piles and steel piles. PDA will provide the following information:

  • Blow count;
  • Maximum compression and tension stresses;
  • Driving resistance (estimate of shaft friction and toe resistance);
  • Transferred energy (hammer efficiency);
  • Extent and location of pile damage;
  • Estimated static pile resistance (case method or impedance method).

Dynamic Load Testing

DLT testing can be performed on prefab concrete piles, steel piles, cast-in-situ concrete piles and wooden piles. DLT is carried out to evaluate the static performance of the pile at working load conditions, and is most suitable for driven piles. Driving data similar to the PDA is available in the field on screen. Signal Matching using DLTWAVE is performed after the test to determine the bearing capacity.

DLT will provide information on:

  • Pile bearing capacity at design load conditions;
  • Extent and location of pile damage.