Methodology for Initial Load Test

The Initial load test for 1200 mm dia pile having design capacities
between 360 T to 160 T, shall be carried out by using a reaction frame
attached to ground anchors. A plate girder shall be designed to take
the load for initial test as per the requirements of IS 2911 Part I
(Section 2). Anchor piles / reaction system shall achieve the total
reaction load / ground anchors.

The reaction Girder shall connected to either anchor piles / ground

anchor installed in 2 directions at a spacing of 3 times the dia of test
pile. In case of reaction piles, the under – reamed anchor piles shall be
installed with the help of under Reamed pilling rig / Auger. The
connection between piles and reaction Girder shall be achieved with
the help of stress bars already embedded in the anchor piles. The
stress bar shall be either of MACALLOY U.K.make.

Once the reaction Girder is erected in position, on suitably designed

pedestals, 2-4 jacks of sufficient capacity shall be placed between
reaction Girder and pile head. The jacks shall be connected through
manifold to a hydraulic pump placed outside the reaction Girder and
clear of datum bars installed for measurement of deflection.

The load shall be applied in increments of 20% of test load with the
help of the hydraulic jacks and shall be strictly as per contract
specifications and IS 2911 Part-4. Each increment shall be maintained
until a rate of settlement of 0.1 mm in half an hour or 0.2 mm in one
hour or 2 hour whichever occurs earlier. Then the next increment shall
be applied. Once the full test load is achieved the same shall be
maintained for 24 hours. The settlement of the test pile shall be
recorded at each stage. Then the test pile shall be unloaded in the
steps of 20% until full load is removed. Observations shall be taken up
to 24 hrs after full load is removed.

All above observations shall be complied and interpreted and safe

capacity of the pile recommended based on results of initial piles.

Methodology for Lateral Load Test

Lateral load test shall be carried out by introducing a hydraulic jack

with pressure gauge between two piles. i.e. pile to be tested and one of
the pile in the group under test as reaction pile or the reaction may be
suitably obtained otherwise. If it is conducted by jack located between
two piles, the full load imposed by the jack shall be applied in
increments of about 20 percent of the estimated test load.
Each increment shall be applied after the rate of displacement is
<=0.1 mm per 30 minutes.

Displacement of pile where cut-off level is unapproachable shall be

read by using two dial gauges of 0.01 mm sensitivity spaced at 30 cm
placed one above the other on the test pile. The displacement at cut-
off level shall be interpolated from similar triangles. However, in case
of approachable cut-off level one dial gauge placed diametrically
opposite to the jack shall directly measure the displacement.

Note – Methods for keeping dial gauge on pile surface is to chip off
uneven concrete on the side of the pile and to fix a piece of glass 20 to
30 mm square. The dial gauges tips shall rest on the central portion of
the glass plate.

The safe lateral load on the pile shall be taken as the least of the
following:

a) Fifty percent of the final load at which the total displacement

increases to 12 mm
b) Final load at which the total displacement corresponds to 5
mm ; and
c) Load corresponding to any other specified displacement as per
performance requirements.