Engineering Aspects in Evaluation of Pile Capacity by Dynamic Testing

Abstract

High strain dynamic pile testing is widely spread in the pile driving industry. Evaluation of pile capacity from field testing is the primary application of the dynamic method, but the accuracy and the area of utilization (soil conditions and pile type) of this method are vague. The application of hardware and software is only partially established because different hardware and software produce substantially diverse pile capacities. Engineering evaluation of pile capacity is not established at all. Statistical analysis of pile capacities is unable to find out applicability of the method to specified site conditions. Uncertainties are available in signal matching technique and comparison of the results of static and dynamic tests. Quality of dynamic measurements together with the software features and the engineering factors affect pile capacity obtained by dynamic testing. Engineering research is needed to ascertain the accuracy and the area of application of high strain dynamic pile testing.