Pile Testing
Pile tests are performed for the following main reasons:
- as part of routine quality control purposes to confirm the performance of the piles
- to confirm design parameters
- to confirm the adequacy of construction methods
- to assess/confirm the structural integrity of the pile.
In relatively recent times, pile testing has been revolutionised largely as a consequence of high powered computers. Fifteen to twenty years ago, testing options were restricted to static loading tests, with some costly and slow forms of integrity testing available for quickly and economically testing piles for structural integrity.
This paper presents details on the pile testing regime used in Australia today. Attention will be focussed on:
- static loading tests
- dynamic testing
- Statnamic testing
- integrity testing