DFI-ADSC Micropile & Anchored Earth

Retention Design & Construction Seminar

Micropile Load Testing and

QA/QC Procedures

John Wolosick, PE, D.GE

Hayward Baker Inc.

Salt Lake City, UT

March 21-22, 2013

Micropile Load Tests are Dangerous!

1
1000 Ton Micropile Load Test

Why do we Perform Load Tests?

To Verify Pile Performance

Geotechnically
Structurally
Measure Deflections
Verify Building Code or Project Requirements
Justify Stresses Exceeding Code!?

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Types of Load Testing

Verification Pile meets Project Specification

Pre-Production

Ultimate Load pile to Failure

Research can be dangerous

Proof Verify Production Work

Multiple Quick Tests

Proof Test

3
ASTM Testing
Static Loading of Individual Piles

Compression - ASTM D1143

Tension - ASTM D3689
Lateral - ASTM D3966

Generally use ASTM Quick Test Procedure

Check Creep in susceptible soils

Load Tests on Individual Piles

Typically tested to twice design load

Compression Test
ASTM D1143 Quick (~1/2 day)
ASTM D1143 Standard (long day)
Some Building Codes (NYC 6 days)

Tension Test ASTM D3689 also Quick and Standard

Lateral Test ASTM D3966 Standard, Cyclic and Excess

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ASTM D 1143 / D 1143M - 07

Schematic of Hydraulic Jack Acting

Against Anchored Reaction Frame

5
Nice Test Set-up (pre-2007)
Compression Test

Four Reaction Anchors (Safety!)

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Independent Reference Beams with
Dial Gages on Glass Plates

Piano Wire with Scale and Mirror

(Back-up plan)

7
Custer Avenue MP
220 Ton
Compression Load
Test

Custer Avenue MP
220 Ton Load Test

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Load Test Set-Up

Best Practices
Tension Test Allowed (safer and cheaper)
Use 4 reaction anchors
Perfectly center the hydraulic jack
Who performs the test
Cut off threaded section at TOP (reduced area)
Install the reaction anchors then test pile Why it
is important

Load Test Set-Up

Load Testing Issues

Coupler Failures
Properly Sized Plates, gussets
Finishing the top of the pile

New ASTM Requirements

Spacing Requirement 8 feet
Need Load Cell and Spherical Bearing Plate

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 Load Test Performance and Safety

Types of Load Tests

Tension
Compression
Lateral
Documenting the load test
Use of Tell Tales
Use of Strain Gauges
Qty of Dial Indicators
Use of Piano Wire
Monitoring test beams for movement during load test
Use data acquisition more often

Evaluation of Results

What is the acceptance criteria?

Tension Load Tests Theoretical Deflection
Compression Load Tests Davisson Criteria
Lateral Load Tests Codes Ultimate at 1 inch Deflection
0.05 inches / Ton (NYSDOT, DFI)
Other Testing Methods
Dead Weight
Statnamic
Dynamic

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 Statnamic
Test

Schematic of Direct Loading on a Single

Pile Using Weighted Platform

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250-kip Capacity Dead Load Reaction Frame

250-kip Capacity Dead Load Reaction Frame

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Compression Test using Dead Weight

Independent Reference Frame

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H Pile Reaction Piles

Strand Reaction Anchors

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What not to do!

What to do!

Use two pressure

gauges on the
pump and a
backflow preventer!

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ASTM D 3689 - 07

Tension Test Set-Up

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Test Beam Must be Level

Ensure that Reactions are Level

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 Tension
Test
Results

ASTM D 3966 - 07

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Lateral Load Test Set-up

Measuring Lateral Deflection

of Micropile

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Lateral Load Test Results

Tell-Tale
Schematic

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Micropile with Tell-Tales

Access Chair

A.S. King Power Plant

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A.S. King Power Plant

Dial Gages for

Tell-Tales

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Load Test
Readings
Form including
Tell-Tales

A.S. King Power Plant

Axial Load Test

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 Strain Gages

Strain Gages

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 Strain Gage
Readout

Camp Porter Barracks

Strain Gauge Data

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 End

Be Safe!

DFI-ADSC Micropile & Anchored Earth

Retention Design & Construction Seminar

Micropile Load Testing and

QA/QC Procedures

John Wolosick, PE, D.GE

Hayward Baker Inc.

Salt Lake City, UT

March 21-22, 2013

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