Pile Integrity Test Report
Project Name 1
Project Location
(PROJECT NAME)
(Project Address)
Test Report No.: 1
PILE INTEGRITY TEST (PIT) ON CONCRETE DRIVEN PILES
1 INTRODUCTION
Pile Integrity Test (PIT) or Low-strain pile integrity test was carried out by Geoscience
Technologies Inc. on five (5) test piles for the (Project Name) (see Figure 1 & 2). This
report summarizes the results of the field test performed on (date).
The pile integrity tests were conducted at the following location:
Table 1 - Location of Pile Integrity Tests
Location of Tests No. of PIT Test/s Date of Test
Location of Tests 5 Date of Test
The main objectives of integrity testing are to assess the structural integrity of the test
piles, and to evaluate the nature and location of pile defects, if any.
PROJECT SITE
Figure 1. Guide Map to the Project Site
Geoscience Technologies, Inc.
Pile Integrity Test Report
Project Name 2
Project Location
Figure 2. Photograph of the Site
2 TEST PILE DETAIL
Test pile details are presented in Table 2. The test pile is precast concrete pile with fc’=
41.4MPa (6000 Psi). Test pile location plan and pile driving record are presented in
Appendix A.
Table 2-Test Pile Details
Test Pile Pile Pile Size Pile Length* Pile Design
No.
Location Name (mm) (m) Length (m)
1 Gridline H-2-4 TP-3 400 x 400 13.0 13.0
2 Gridline G-6’-1 TP-4 400 x 400 13.0 13.0
3 Gridline C-6-3 TP-1 400 x 400 13.0 13.0
4 Gridline C-2-4 TP-2 400 x 400 13.0 13.0
5 Gridline E-5-7 TP-5 400 x 400 13.0 13.0
*Length below pile top at the time of testing
Geoscience Technologies, Inc.
Pile Integrity Test Report
Project Name 3
Project Location
3 PILE INTEGRITY TESTING SYSTEM
Integrity tests were conducted using the most advanced state of the art data collection
system available to determine pile shaft integrity by surface impact methods. This system
is called the PIT Collector and allows for the detection of even very weak reflections from
long piles. The Collector can acquire, enhance, display and plot data. The interpretations
of result are based on one-dimensional wave propagation theory.
The testing involved the attachment of an accelerometer to the top of pile. After
attachment, the impact device generates a low strain compressive impact wave. The
acceleration and velocity records of the impact along with subsequent reflections from
either pile toe and/or pile discontinues, were graphically displayed.
The integrity testing method separates effects of impact and surface reflections from other
relevant reflections (i.e. the pile toe and other discontinues) by averaging records of
several impacts. This averaging technique tends to cancel random signals in any particular
blow while amplifying the effects of the relevant repetitive response.
The integrity records obtained were also exponentially amplified with time. This
enhanced the identification of relevant reflections in records that have low energy or for
long piles, where signals were often damped out by skin friction.
The integrity of the piles tested are judged based on the detected changes in pile axial
stiffness, EA, when subjected to an impact blow, where E is the elastic modulus and A is
the cross sectional area of the pile. The acceleration measurements are first taken before
integration to obtain the velocity vs. depth curves for interpretation. The changes in pile
EA with velocity could be seen based on the relationship: Force = EA/C * Velocity, where
EA is the pile stiffness and C is the wave speed. As such, for a constant force and wave
speed, decrease in pile EA would result in an increase in measured velocity, and vice
versa.
Early reflections in the velocity record occurring before the reflection from the pile toe
could be the result of pile impedance changes and/or soil resistance. Sudden positive
reflections in the velocity records usually indicate reductions (decrease in the pile cross
section or lower concrete modulus/strength), while negative reflections suggest increases
in impedance (larger cross section /bulging or higher concrete modulus/strength).
Reductions in impedance that are preceded by impedance increase often represents a
return to nominal pile diameter and do not necessarily suggest a problem. Meanwhile,
gradual impedance changes are typically attributed to changes in soil resistance.
Geoscience Technologies, Inc.
Pile Integrity Test Report
Project Name 4
Project Location
4 METHODOLOGY OF PIT TESTS
Integrity testing was done using a Pile Integrity Tester (see Figure 3) - Collector Model
manufactured by Pile Dynamics Inc. (PDI). The PIT acquires, processes and stores
acceleration data that are produced by a low-strain hammer impact, and produces results
in the time domain (Pulse Echo Method). The data were later transferred to a computer for
analysis and graphical output.
Figure 3. Pile Integrity Tester – PIT Collector
Prior to the integrity tests, excess/poor-quality concrete at the pile top and /or pile cut-off
level was removed in order to expose hard/good-quality concrete (see Appendix B). A PIT
accelerometer was affixed firmly to the pile top using modeling clay as bonding material
in order to accurately measure the high-frequency motion during impact and reflection.
Five (5) hammer blows were applied and averaged by the PIT. This technique is useful in
separating the effects of random mechanical and electronic noise from the relevant
reflections. Moreover, the sonic test was repeated at other locations at the pile top so that
problems associated with poor accelerometer attachment or “unlucky” accelerometer
placement or hammer hit spot was avoided.
An analysis option incorporated in the PIT computer software is an exponential (with
time) amplification routine. This option amplifies wave reflections that are weak due to
pile and soil damping. In certain cases, the reflections from the pile toe become evident
only after such amplification is applied. Other signal enhancement functions of the PIT
were used, including the low-pass, wavelet and high-pass filters. The low-pass and
wavelet filters attenuate high-frequency noise and were used to give the signals a
smoother appearance, while the high-pass filter attenuates low-frequency noise and helps
resolve base-line drift problems that make the velocity records wander from the horizontal
axis.
Geoscience Technologies, Inc.
Pile Integrity Test Report
Project Name 5
Project Location
5 TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Based on the data gathered, the following observations are considered with regards to
the data processing and interpretation of results:
a) The material wave speed was found 4,000m/s, within the typical range of wave
speeds (3,200 to 4,300 m/s) reported for sound concrete.
b) An impedance decrease causes a positive wave.
c) An impedance increase causes a negative wave.
d) Strong soil resistance causes negative reflection similar to that increase of
impedance.
Table 3 – Summary of Integrity Test Results
Pile
No. Pile Location Pile Integrity Result
Name
No significant pile defects detected along the pile
shaft. Pile impedance detected along the pile shaft
1 Gridline H-2-4 TP-3 indicates changes in stronger soil stiffness /
resistance. Clear pile toe response. Pile integrity
is acceptable.
No significant pile defects detected along the pile
shaft. Pile impedance detected along the pile shaft
2 Gridline G-6’-1 TP-4 indicates changes in stronger soil stiffness /
resistance. Clear pile toe response. No pile
integrity problem.
No significant pile defects detected along the pile
shaft. Pile impedance detected along the pile shaft
3 Gridline C-6-3 TP-1 indicates changes in stronger soil stiffness /
resistance. Clear pile toe response. No pile
integrity problem.
No significant pile defects detected along the pile
shaft. Pile impedance detected along the pile shaft
4 Gridline C-2-4 TP-2 indicates changes in stronger soil stiffness /
resistance. Clear pile toe response. No pile
integrity problem.
No significant pile defects detected along the pile
shaft. Pile impedance detected along the pile shaft
5 Gridline E-5-7 TP-5 indicates changes in stronger soil stiffness /
resistance. Clear pile toe response. No pile
integrity problem.
Geoscience Technologies, Inc.
Pile Integrity Test Report
Project Name 6
Project Location
6 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Five (5) low-strain pile integrity tests were successfully conducted at the (Project Name)
on (date).
The PIT record for the five (5) test piles, namely TP-1, TP-2, TP-3, TP-4 and TP-5,
showed clear toe reflections at the theoretical depth and no significant defects detected
along the pile shaft. Based on these findings, it is concluded that the integrity of the 5 test
piles are acceptable.
GEOSCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Name of Engineer)
Pile Testing Engineer
Geoscience Technologies, Inc.
