PDA TEST ON BORED PILES

EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND TEST PROCEDURE

PDA TEST
The PILE DRIVING ANALYZER (PDA) system is the most widely employed system for Dynamic Load
Testing. Also called High Strain Dynamic Load Tests, PDA tests assess the capacity of piles and also
evaluate shaft integrity, driving stresses, and hammer energy when monitoring installation.

The procedures for dynamic pile testing have been documented well in the ASTM standard D4945
(“Test Method for High Strain Dynamic Testing of Deep Foundations”).

EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS

PDA 8G Unit Specifications

PHYSICAL:
 Size: 320 X 250 X 68 mm (12.6 x 9.8 x 2.7 inches)
 Weight: 5 Kg (11 lbs)
 Temperature range: 0 to 40°C (32 to 104° F) operating; -20 to 65°C (-4 to 149° F) storage
 Display: 26.4cm (10.4”), sunlight readable, resolution 1024 X 768
 Built in capacitive touch screen
 Video Outputs: HDMI, VGA
  Power: 4 hour continuous data collection battery pack, 12 VDC car battery, or 100-240 VAC.

ELECTRONIC:
 Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System
 60 GB SSD internal drive
 Ethernet port
 4 USB ports
 Analog signal conditioning filtering (frequency response) 2.5 KHZ (-3 dB)
 16-bit A/D converter with sampling frequency of 10.24 MHz
 8 channels with effective digitizing frequency of 10 KHz to 40 KHz selectable 1K, 2K, or 4K
data record sizes available

FUNCTIONAL:
 Built in calibration test function
 Compatible with Smart Sensors
 Wireless range up to 100 m (328 ft)
 Up to 16 universal (strain or acceleration, piezoelectric or piezoresistive) channels of
wireless data acquisition
 Up to 8 universal (strain or acceleration, piezoelectric or piezoresistive) channels of
traditional data acquisition
 Automatic balancing of signals and signal conditioning
 Digital (software) integration of acceleration
 Signal conditioning for force and acceleration have similar frequency response
 Internal calibration check of strain and acceleration
 Signal amplification capability
 Triggers on any attached strain transducer; simultaneous trigger of all channels
 User adjustable pre-trigger buffer size
 High speed internet data transmission using SiteLink through broadband phone or other
network device (additional desktop sharing software needed)
 Dial up data transmission through data capable mobile phone connected via USB

The PDA-8G is patented under the Remote Pile Driving Analyzer US Patent No. US 6301551 B1
Strain Transducer Specifications
 For use with the Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA)
 Compatible with Traditional (cabled) connection or with Wireless Transmitter when used
with PDA model 8G or PAX
 Standard ‘’Smart Sensor” technology.
 Smart Sensors report their calibration to a PDA model 8G or PAX (PAX reporting in wireless
mode only)
 Effective Gage Length: 76 mm standard
 Size: 126 x 35 x 11 mm
 Material: Aluminum
 Circuit: Full Wheatstone bridge
 Cable: Shielded
 Nominal Sensitivity: 380 με/mV/V
 Strain Range: Nominally 3,000 με (functional to 8,000 με)
 Shock Range: Nominally 5,000 g
 Natural frequency when attached to foundation: greater than 2,000 Hz
 Temperature Range: -50° to 120°C operating
 Attachment Method: Bolts to pile

Accelerometer Specifications
 Compatible with Traditional wired connection (cable) or with Wireless Transmitter when
used with PDA model
 PAX or 8G
 Standard ‘’Smart Sensor” technology.
 Mounting: Custom aluminum block (25 x 25 x 25 mm)
 Circuit: Integral impedance converting electronics
 Cable: Shielded
 Sensitivity: Nominally 1.0 mV/g with 10 V.D.C. bias voltage input
 Range: 5,000 g (Limit 10,000 g)
 Frequency Range: 0.25 to 7000 Hz (resonant freq: > 40 kHz)
 Temperature Range: -50° to 120°C operating
 Time Constant: Nominally 3s
 Attachment Method: Bolts to pile
GENERAL TEST PROCEDURES
1. Sensor Attachment

Sensors are attached to the pile by expansion bolt drilled on the side of the pile.
Two strain gages and two accelerometers are used for this test. The sensors are
attached in locations as shown in the figure below.

2D from pile top

2D from pile top

The other end of sensor is attached

to the PDA 8G unit.

2. Input of Pile details

Data of piles (which is supplied by the customer prior of testing) shall be input/encoded to
the PDA 8G unit and actual data input (distance of the sensor attached to pile to the bottom
of pile, length of penetration of pile, type, weight, energy of hammer, etc.)
3. Hammering of Pile

A reference mark is set at the pile. This mark is monitored by a surveyor’s level to measure
the pile set after every impact.

Impact is induced to the pile by use of the pile hammer. Drop height is set initially at 0.6
meter. The drop height will increase in succeeding tests up to 1.0 meter. Each impact is
recorded by the PDA 8G unit.

4. Data Collection

After each set of blow, the PDA 8G Unit shall record all the data needed. The data shall be
stored in the unit and ready for analysis and interpretation using CAPWAP.