Lateral Pile Load Tests

Pile load tests

„ Important as the tests verify the lateral
pile capacity and deflection
„ Load test system
Ê _____ loading system
Ê ________ pile system
Lateral load test against dead weight reaction system
Lateral load test against dead weight platform
Lateral load test using reaction pile
 Lateral load & deflection
Importance of measurements
„ Load cell must be ________ properly

„ Dialgauges must be placed properly

and ensure datum is not moving
Ê apply corrections if necessary
Ê the level of measurement is important
(how much is it above the ground?)
Deflection Correction
For reaction pile system only
„ The correction factor can be obtained using
______________________
Test
Load

Distance between test

and reaction pile
Analysis
of lateral
load test
Pile instrumentation
„ Vibrating wire strain gauges
Ê arrange
in a circuit to monitor bending
moment of pile at a _____________

Ê manystrain gauge circuits to monitor

____________________ along shaft
Ê more strain gauge circuits should be installed
in level where there is ________________
(often in top part of pile)
Pile instrumentation
„ Inclinometerinstalled inside the pile to
monitor deflection profile
Ê Pileshear force and soil reaction profiles can
be derived from BM & deflection profiles
Deflection :
Slope :
Bending Moment :
Shear Force :

Soil Reaction :
Side
elevation
Plan view
Deflection of Socketed Piles
„ The linear portion of the load-
settlement response can be relatively
____.
„ The pile head deflection ________
significantly once the linear portion
has passed.
Observations
„ In many instances, the _______________
governs the performance of a laterally
loaded socketed pile.
„ Thus the contribution of a rock socket is
relatively __________ if it is located 5
pile diameters below the ground. Design
the pile against ______ is usually
sufficient.
 Pile diameter
1m

Rock socket has no effect where thickness of top soil

exceeds 5 m (i.e. 5 pile diameters)
Pile diameter
1m

Inclinometer
readings
confirm
the finding
of parametric
studies as
only the top
5 m of pile
shaft
deflects
Considerations
„ During load test, the pile is a ________
pile with deflection and rotation.
„ The working pile is likely restrained by
a rigid pile cap (hence ____________)
and arranged in _______. Thus
deflection is likely to be ___ and BM is
likely to be _____.