ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES

DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 1 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

METHOD STATEMENT
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING

CONSTRUCTION OF DEIRA MALL @ PALM DEIRA,

Project : DUBAI, U.A.E.

Client : M/S. NAKHEEL

Consultant : M/S RSP

Main Contractor : M/S. UNEC

Piling Contractor : M/S.DUTCH EUROPE PILING & FOUNDATION

 ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES
DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 2 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

TABLE OF CONTENT

Section Title Page

1 Scope 3
2 Significant and Use 3
3 Summary of the Test Method 3
4 Apparatus 3
5 Test Personnel 4
6 Test Procedure 4
7 Interpretation of Test Results 6
8 Test Report Requirements 9
9 Reference 9
 ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES
DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 3 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

1. SCOPE

This test method covers the procedure for High Strain Dynamic testing of Piles to determine the
force and velocity response of the pile to an impact force applied axially by a pile driving hammer
that will cause a large strain impact to the top of the pile.

2. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE

This test method is used to provide data on strain or force and acceleration, velocity or
displacement of a pile under impact force. The data are used to estimate the bearing capacity and
the integrity of the pile, as well as pile stresses and soil dynamics characteristics.

3. SUMMARY OF TEST METHOD

Dynamic testing involves attaching two strain transducers and two accelerometers to the pile
approximately 1.5 pile diameters below the pile head during initial driving or at a convenient
location during restrike testing. An impact hammer or a heavy, guided block is dropped onto the
specially prepared pile head. The generated compression wave travels down the pile and reflects
from the pile toe upward. The waves, which are picked up by the sensors, are processed and
automatically stored in the field by the computer. The data can be easily retrieved for further
review, graphical presentations or reporting.

4. APPARATUS

The testing firm must supply the following testing equipment and instrumentation:
1. A Steel shaft top cushion to be applied on top of the pile to be tested.
2. A driving system consisting of a drop weight suitable of generating a net measurable pile
penetration or an estimated mobilized static resistance in the bearing strata which exceeds
to a sufficient degree of the working load assigned to the pile as judged by the testing
Engineer.
3. Hammer dropping device provided generally by the Contractor. Usually a mechanical crane
of sufficient capacity to carry the rammer system as per the testing Engineer instructions. It
will raise the hammer and drop freely and strike the pile.
4. Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA manufactured by Pile Dynamics, Inc. Model PAL / PAK)
installed with the necessary software for signal transmission, recording, displaying and
recording of the measured data.

Fig-1 PDA (Model PAL) Fig-2 PDA (Model PAK)

 ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES
DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 4 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

5. Strain transducers capable of independently measuring strain versus time at a specific

location along the pile axis during the impact event.
6. Acceleration transducers capable of measuring acceleration versus time which can be
integrated to velocity. These accelerometers shall be handled carefully and calibrated.

Fig-3 Strain Transducer Fig-4 Accelerometer

5. TEST PERSONNEL

The field testing is performed by an experienced technician with at least 1 year experience in pile
testing.

The interpretation of records is performed by experienced engineer.

6. TEST PROCEDURE

6.1 General - Applicable project information shall be reviewed and recorded prior to test,
including soil boring logs, pile installation records and concrete properties.

6.2 Data Input

1. Make a new page which creates a new file for the pile.
2. Enter data for project, pile name, Area, Length (Length below sensors to pile bottom),
Damping Parameter (JC), Sampling frequency, Specific Weight and Wave Speed.
3. Enter transducer calibrations.
4. Check the Offset for strain transducer balance (-5 v to +4 v acceptable) before and after
installation of the strain gauges.
5. To acquire data, put PDA in ACCEPT mode. After test, put PDA in STANDBY mode and
remove transducers.
 ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES
DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 5 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

6.3 Preparation of the Test Pile and Attaching the Transducers

Two sensors for strain and two accelerometers are connected to the side of the pile at 1.5 pile
diameters below the top, opposite to each other by mounting blocks with threaded holes.

Prepare pile by drilling holes about 1.5 to 2 pile diameters below top (2 holes per strain transducer
and 1 hole per accelerometer).

Gages shall be attached by the testing Engineer to the pile in a secure manner as to prevent slippage
under impact. The transducers shall be placed, diametrically opposite and on equal radial distances,
at the same axial distance from the bottom of the pile so that the measurements compensate for
bending of the pile. The typical arrangements are shown below;

Fig-5 Schematic showing location of

sensors attached to the pile.
S1, S2- Strain Transducers
A1,A2- Accelerometers

Fig-6 Typical arrangement

 ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES
DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 6 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

6.4 Application of Blow

Position the hammer in such a manner that the pile top and hammer bottom are parallel during
impact so that the force is applied axially and concentrically with the pile and to make as uniform
contact stress as possible during the test. Set up the apparatus for recording, reducing, and
displaying data so that it is operational and the force and velocity signals are zeroed.

First drop height should be minimal to allow the testing Engineer to assess the testing equipment,
the driving system and pile stresses. Subsequent impacts can then be applied by utilizing higher
drop heights.

6.5 Analysis of Measurements

6.5.1 The total travel time of the wave can be calculated by the formula

Time t = 2L / C

Where L – Length of the Pile

C – Wave speed

For piles with variable cross section reflections occur at the interfaces of the segments with
different properties ie. reflections occur before 2L / C. Also resistance forces and the pile end cause
reflection waves which travel upwards. In the analysis propagation of both upwards and downwards
traveling waves is tracked.

6.5.2 Obtain force and velocity from the display apparatus. Record the impact force and velocity
and the maximum and minimum forces for the selected representative blows. Obtain the maximum
acceleration directly from the accelerometer signal or by differentiation of the velocity versus time
record. Obtain the displacement from the pile driving record by integration of the velocity versus
time record. Obtain the maximum energy transferred to the location of the transducers.

6.5.3 The recorded data is subjected to analysis in a computer. The results of the analysis include an
assessment of integrity of the pile, and the maximum dynamic driving stresses. The results may also
be used for evaluation of static soil resistance and its distribution on the pile at the time of the
testing. Such further use of the data is a matter of proper engineering judgment.

7. INTERPRETATION OF TEST RESULTS

Dynamic Pile Monitoring with the Pile Driving Analyzer ( PDA) and Dynamic Load Testing with
the PDA and CAPWAP (Case Pile Wave Analysis Program) are both High Strain Dynamic Testing
procedures. The pile driving hammers or drop weights used to perform these tests cause high strains
in the piles.
 ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES
DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 7 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

The Pile Driving Analyzer testing analyzers use wave propagation theory to compute numerous
variables that fully describe the condition of the hammer-pile-soil system in real time, following
each hammer impact. This approach allows the verification pile capacity.

Fig-7 Typical presentation of PDA (Pile Driving Analyzer) result.

The force is computed by multiplying the measured signals from a pair of strain transducers
attached near the top of the pile by the pile area and modules. The velocity measurement is obtained
by integrating signals from a pair of accelerometers also attached near the top of the pile. Strain
transducers and accelerometers are connected to the Pile Driving Analyzer that internally performs
all the necessary signal conditioning and processing to obtain output results.
Soil resistance computed by the PDA includes both static and viscous components. The static
component is a function of a soil parameter called the Damping Factor, which is related to soil
grain size. The damping factor is an input to the PDA.

Another technique that evolved from Smith’s approach of modeling the wave propagation theory of
pile driving is the Case Pile Wave Analysis Program (CAPWAP) which is a numerical analysis
procedure to solve for soil resistance parameters from the derived force and velocity. The
CAPWAP results are based on the “best possible match” between the computed and the measured
wave up curves. To compute forces (or velocities or wave values) at the pile top, pile and soil are
modeled mathematically and an algorithm that allows for a step by step computation of all pile
variables along the pile length is followed. The pile is divided in to number of segments of uniform
cross section with approximately 1m length and soil resistances are assigned to every embedded
pile segment to model the shaft friction and the end bearing.
 ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES
DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 8 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

In the CAPWAP the soil model consists of an elasto - plastic spring and a linear dashpot. The
extended CAPWAP soil resistance model is shown in below figure;

Fig-8 The Extended CAPWAP soil resistance model

CAPWAP combines field measurements (obtained with the PDA) and wave-equation type
analytical procedures to predict soil behavior including static-load capacity, soil resistance
distribution, soil damping and quake values, pile load versus movement plots, and pile soil load
transfer characteristics. The employment of PDA field measurements in conjunction with
CAPWAP analysis defines what is known as Dynamic Load Testing and estimates.

Fig-9 Typical presentation of CAPWAP result

 ARAB CENTER FOR ENGINEERING STUDIES
DUBAI, U.A.E.
METHOD STATMENT Ref. No. : MS-038(P-87/2017)
Issue No. : 6
Rev. No. : 0
Review Date : 21/11/2017
HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC TESTING OF PILES Page : 9 of 9
Approved by : Eng. Mohammed
Shatnawi

8. TEST REPORT REQUIREMENTS

 Project identification/location, and

 Identification (name and designation) of test pile(s),
 Working load and safety factor (or required ultimate capacity) of the pile(s),
 Type and dimensions of pile(s) including nominal or actual cross sectional area, or both,
length and diameter (as a function of pile length for timber of composite piles),
 Description of all components of the apparatus for obtaining dynamic measurements
 Date tested
 Test pile identification,
 The length below sensors, cross sectional area, density, wave speed, and dynamic modulus
of elasticity of the test pile,
 Penetration resistance (number of blows per unit penetration) during the test,
 Graphical presentation of velocity and force measurements in the time domain for
representative blow of each pile tested.
 Method(s) and one-dimensional wave propagation theory used (give reference) to evaluate
data (particularly for the capacity evaluation, if applicable),
 Comments on the capacity of the pile at the time of testing; mention shall be made as to if
capacity is of remolded state as at end of driving or from a restrike with sufficient wait after
driving. When applicable, summarize variables describing the soil model, including
damping factors, quakes, and resistance distribution,
 Comments on the driving stresses in the pile,
 Comments on the integrity of the pile

9. REFERENCES

 ASTM D 4945-12 - Standard Test Method for High Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles.
 AASHTO T298-93 - High Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles
 PDA User’s Manual.